Griesbach’s Kinross Road is named after Victoria Cross Recipient Private Cecil Kinross, who received the Commonwealth’s highest award of bravery for storming a machine gun nest to protect his comrades at Passchendaele. His family recently donated this medal to the City of Edmonton to put on display for all to share.
Watch the video:
http://edmontonjournal.com/…/victoria-cross-donated-to-city…
It is great to see such a strong turnout for this important day of remembrance. Another fantastic ceremony at Patricia Park. Today, Brianna Yager and Dazmond Van’t Kruis laid the wreath on behalf of Griesbach Community League and residents (pictured below, standing in front of Frezenburg Memorial). Also pictured is the Silver Cross Mother with her wreath and a few candid photos from earlier today.
We are honoured to have this ceremony take place in our neighbourhood and wish to acknowledge 1 PPCLI for doing an exceptional job once again.
Patricia Park, Griesbach
Griesbach Parade and Gault Blvd.
Wednesday, November 11th 10:45 am
We invite you to attend the Remembrance Day Ceremony in Griesbach’s Patricia Park. The event is hosted by the 1st Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, and is without a doubt, one of the finest events in the city.
The official ceremony begins at 10:45 am. We encourage you to arrive early as this ceremony attracts hundreds. Please note there will be parking restrictions on Griesbach Parade and Gault Blvd. The service will feature a procession of soldiers from 1 PPCLI, a reading of “In Flanders Fields”, a short prayer for the fallen and a minute of silence at 11:00 pm. This will be followed by the laying of wreaths.
The long term weather forecast is calling for a temperatature of 6°C under cloudy skies, which we’ll definitely take at this time of year! Dress warm and bring a cup of coffee.
Patricia Park was created to honour the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, founded in 1914. It features a memorial wall listing the names of PPCLI members who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. A series of plaques reveal all of the battle honours the regiment has earned from WW I to present day. In the middle is a replica of the Frezenberg Memorial in Belgium, honouring a critical battle of the Great War where the PPCLI acquitted itself remarkably, holding its ground despite staggering losses in a relentless German assault.
After the ceremony, we encourage you to visit the newly dedicated Flanders Fields Park in the NW corner of Griesbach. There are a number of new storyboards and monuments on display that recount the story of John McCrae and his famous battlefield poem, “In Flanders Fields.”
We recently received a question from a Griesbach resident asking if they could book the park we use for Shake at the Lake (Perron-Berger Park) for a wedding. Wow, that would be a cool spot for an outdoor wedding.
As parks fall under the responsibility of the City of Edmonton, we did not have an answer. Fortunately, we know someone who would. Alison Mould, Community Recreation Coordinator for the City of Edmonton (NW District) shared the following. Note, contact information is at the bottom of this article.
General Information for Weddings on City of Edmonton Parkland
Yes… weddings may be held on City Parkland. There are three main options for citizens considering a wedding ceremony in City Parks.
1. Open Parkland – If your gathering will have 50 or more people, this type of event is required to have a permit issued at no cost. Less than 50 people there is no requirement for a permit but you may still wish to contact us to see what else is going on in the park that day. No set-up of any structures, chairs, arbours etc. is permitted on open space. The permit gives permission for the activity to occur, but does not guarantee a specific site in the park or any exclusive use.
2. Book-able Picnic Sites, Gazebos or the Borden Park Bandshell – This option provides for a booked space to hold your event. There is a cost per hour for booking these sites, which varies with the facilities provided. Set-up of additional structures can be permitted on these sites. Guidelines for use of picnic sites apply to these sites.
3. Community Services Facilities – City Facilities such as the Muttart Conservatory, Fort Edmonton, the Heritage Amphitheater, the ACT Centre and the Rundle Family Centre provide “private” book-able space and can offer more elaborate options in terms of your ceremony or reception. Costs are specific to different options within these facilities, so please contact their rental coordinator for more information. Each facility will also have usage guidelines.
Since a wedding ceremony is a private event, and City Parks are provided as public space, this is the City of Edmonton’s main consideration in looking at such events. Parkland remains a public space, and we can make no guarantees as to who will wander through your ceremony or set up next door. Your “event” may potentially be impacted by weather (both good and bad), other goings on in the park, or other events. As such, there are a few considerations that may effect your planning.
General Guidelines and Information
• Park areas are open for public use from 05:00 – 23:00 daily. (Bookings are limited to 08:00 – 22:00). Amenities such as bathrooms in the parks open & close at different site-specific times.
• Park areas / facilities may be closed due to circumstances beyond our control such as weather damage, vandalism, construction/repair needs.
• The City does not guarantee that public parking will be sufficient for your needs nor that all members of your party may be able to access your event. Parking regulations are enforced in City parks.
• Parkland and picnic sites are provided “as is”. City crews do no extraordinary work to prepare the site other than standard maintenance and cleaning.
General Information for Weddings on City of Edmonton Parkland
• Generally vehicles are not allowed off of designated public roadways and parking areas. For book-able sites, arrangements can be made at a cost for vehicle access to drop off/pick up supplies.
• The erection of any structures such as archways, awnings or tents (up to 20 x 40 ‘) are allowed only on book-able sites. Decorations may be put up only in a manner that does not damage park structures or trees.
• No rice or confetti may be used.
• Live un-amplified music is allowed but cannot interfere with other park patron’s quiet enjoyment of the park. Stereos or public address systems are prohibited.
• Any temporary signage or directional aids are to be approved by City staff prior to being posted and removed immediately after event.
• Consumption of liquor is prohibited in all City Parks under provincial law.
• Tables in canopies or shelters are fixed and cannot be moved.
• Any food service may require a permit.
• The use of Horses / Carriage may be allowed by special permit on park roadways or turf. Approval is based on a variety of safety and other considerations.
Contacts:
Bookings Unit – Picnic Site Bookings – 496-4999
River Valley Events Liaison – Open Space Use 496-4981
Community Recreation Coordinators – referral through 496-4999
Commercial Activities Coordinator– 496-8363
Community Services Facilities:
ACT / Rundle Family Centre – 496-1496
Heritage Ampitheater – Wm. Hawrelak Park – 496 – 5835
Fort Edmonton – 496-8777
Valley Zoo – 496-8777
Muttart Conservatory – 496-1403
Prince of Wales Armoury – 496-8710
Griesbach is the proud home to an exceptional new park honouring John McCrae’s epic poem, In Flanders Fields. (Click here to see the story from Global news.)
This weekend, a stirring ceremony was held to commemorate the poem on its 100th anniversary… and to unveil new displays telling the story of the poem’s origins, as well as providing historical perspective. A beautiful bronze plaque celebrates the poem in the author’s original handwriting for all to see.
Major General Griesbach School student Kaylem Nice was selected to recite the poem at the ceremony. He’s a great speaker and did his community extremely proud.
We hope this park will attract Edmontonians of all ages and serve to keep McCrae’s legacy alive, while educating people on the horrors of war and the immense sacrifice generations of youth made on the battlefield.
Canada Lands and the Village at Griesbach were instrumental in coming up with the vision for the park, which includes a poppy garden and historical plaques honouring John McCrae. They were supported by a dedicated organizing committee that put an incredible amount of research into this project to ensure they got it right.
Special thanks to the Castle Downs Recreation Society, which was the driving force behind the storyboards and the ceremony. Our community is proud to be home to such an important monument.
CDRS President, Lynnette Thompson
Flanders Field Park Committee
Looking for info on any minor sports team, league or venue? The Edmonton Sport Council is a non-profit society funded primarily by the City of Edmonton. They maintain a database of contacts for all Edmonton sport organizations and a database of sport facilities that can be accessed free through their website: edmontonsport.com
