Remembering the Early Years of HKVCA’s Ontario Region: In the year 2000, it was decided that our fledging HKVCA organization needed to formalize an Executive for the Ontario Region. Three people were asked to be that first Executive. David Murray was chosen as Regional Director; Wendy Campbell as Regional Treasurer and I was the Regional Secretary. We had many initiatives to consider, one of the most important being to divide the province into six areas and set up Area Reps to help us keep in touch with the membership. In the nearly 25 years since then a lot has happened in this province, and the major successes have depended on a number of special people who have been involved, some for several years. This is my opportunity to thank some of them.
Early on we created a Newsletter for the Ontario Region called “The Spirit of the Torch”. It was sent to all Ontario members. We used the title because it reflected one of our first initiatives. We encouraged members to purchase wreaths for veterans in their family, funded partly with our help, to honour Hong Kong veterans and also increase public awareness of the Hong Kong story. Key players preparing those newsletters were Lori Smith, Sandi Cameron and myself. Sylvia Mason soon joined us, and her professional approach made a huge difference. The complete series over several years make for an interesting read – even today!
One of our most important goals in those early years was working to make educators and their students more aware of the Battle of Hong Kong and our soldiers’ role in that battle. At one point, our Executive was invited to attend a workshop for veterans who wanted to learn how to deal with the public in discussing their war experience. A High School teacher from Oakville, Nick Brune, along with his students, was assisting with the process. We discovered that he had recently received the Governor-General’s Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Canadian History. Following this early meeting, after much discussion and further meetings with veterans and others, Nick Brune prepared a series of Ten Lessons for use at the High School level. The end result was a booklet called “Canada in Hong Kong: 1941-1945 The Forgotten Heroes – Ten Selected Lesson Plans”. Published in both English and French, it has been used in different parts of the country over the years. It was a brilliant piece of work, and we certainly appreciate all of the effort that was involved. Our website featured those Ten Lessons in both English and French in the Teachers’ Zone for several years.
Not too long after, our Education Committee happened on a rather exciting project idea. We decided to develop what we called “The All-New HKVCA Cross-Canada Writing Contest.” It became a reality when Flora Fung, a High School History teacher in Oshawa, agreed to set up a Contest, with prize money involved, placing the emphasis on individual soldiers who participated in the struggle to survive the HK Battle and the POW camps that followed. Flora, as high-skilled as she was, was able to set up and use in her classes the ideas she discussed with us so that, ultimately, classes across the country took part. From 2009 on, 5 different HK veterans were chosen each year and their stories made available. The students would choose one of the five veterans and then build their own response as influenced by the veteran’s story - in whatever form the student chose to use. There was much success in those years, and we are most grateful to Flora for spending the time providing meaningful connections between the veteran chosen and the students’ own creative ideas, which were then sent into the competition. Many teachers were involved in this effort, and again, Flora provided valuable advice through the process. Flora had also received the Governor-General’s Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Canadian History. How fortunate we were to have Flora work with us!
By 2003, The Ontario Executive felt the need to expand. Lori Smith had become Regional Secretary and Sandi Cameron, Regional Treasurer. We invited two fellows to become Deputy Regional Directors, Ken Skelton and Mike Babin. Ken Skelton was well-known for his memorabilia and artifact displays, and, especially during Asian Heritage Month, was able to co-ordinate a number of opportunities to display his work. We much appreciated Ken sharing his treasures with us and the general public on many occasions. Even at this early stage, Mike Babin was interested ln searching out various ways to contribute to the health of this organization. His first major task was to chair the 2nd Annual Mini-Reunion held in Aurora in September of 2004. This event was deemed a great success. His next even bigger task was to organize completely the trip to Hong Kong which was to happen in December of 2005. Those of us who were able to be there agreed that the Hong Kong venture was a tremendous experience.
Many more people should be mentioned here for their unwavering support in those early years. Nevertheless, we still try to keep in touch. This recent announcement that 7 HKVCA members have been awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal gives me the opportunity to congratulate them one and all for everything that they have done on behalf of HKVCA. Heartiest congratulations to Carol Hadley, Pam Heinrichs, Lucette Mailloux-Muir, Barry Mitchell, Kathie Carlson and Jim Trick who have all contributed so greatly to the health of this organization. Of course, special mention must be made of Lori Smith, who has been with the Ontario Region since the beginning – a Rock of Gibraltar, so to speak.
The final formal get-together of our HKVCA organization has now taken place. Chaired by Kathie Carlson, the organizing Committee has done a masterful job bringing together the various, diverse areas of interest with a look to the future. May the enthusiasm of members continue to generate a better understanding of the past, and the role that our Hong Kong soldiers played in the History of our country. We will remember them.
Back to HKVCA History