Saving an outdoor St. James museum

St. James-Assiniboia

Assiniboine Park officially opened early in the 20th century. Most of the park is south of the Assiniboine River. On May 21, 1932, a footbridge opened creating a permanent link between Portage Avenue, the St. James part of the park, and most of the park south of the Assiniboine River.

Directly across from Joe Black’s Coffee, there is a park bench in memory of Grant W. Laycock (1937-2012), an insurance company executive with the Simcoe Erie Insurance Company. The bench’s inscription reads: “Grant lived on Overdale and had happy times here. ‘Enjoy the Park’.”

The park benches on the St. James side of Assiniboine Park pay tribute to people with a St. James connection from various walks of life. Sam and Marj Chambers were also from Overdale Street. Sam was the president of the Deer Lodge Community Club, while Marj was a long time member of the St. James Art Club who specialized in hand sculpted crocuses.

George and Connie Waters played a vital role in establishing the Laureate Academy for special needs students. George Waters Middle School is named after George, who was a school trustee and a lifetime member of the Assiniboia Chamber of Commerce, which is currently located right across the street from this part of Assiniboine Park.

Eileen Shakespeare and Gerry Porteous were married for 66 years. Gerry worked for Powell Equipment, while Eileen worked for 30 years at Eatons. Evelyn and Ronald Scarth were longtime residents of Deer Lodge Place. Rob Mackie worked for 35 years at Winnipeg Photo. Diana Lee Palmerton (Mahoney), an animal lover, died at the age of 39. Diana was a Sturgeon Creek High School alumna. Emily Joan Monteith worked at The Bay and Deer Lodge Hospital.

After returning from the Second World War, Tom Bjarnason (1925-2009) lived on Belvidere Street before becoming a well known illustrator whose work included Canada Post stamps, National War Museum paintings, and the cover of the 1976-77 Toronto Maple Leaf Golden Anniversary Fact Book. Tom’s bench is the closest bench to Gordon Reeve’s Agassiz Ice sculpture.

(Full disclosure: I have a close connection to this story: Tom Bjarnason was my uncle. In 2009, I led and contributed money to the campaign to get the park bench in his honour. The total cost was $1,500. I am currently the contact person with the Assiniboine Park Conservancy on the issue of a replacement bench, the current total cost of which is $6,000.)

In 1953, Stewart Millett, an insurance broker, was stricken with polio. Stewart courageously fought back and served community in various ways, including as President of the Winnipeg Kinsman in 1957, the president of the Red River Ex (1959-61), and the chair of the 1963 Easter Seals campaign. Stewart narrowly lost a 1966 bid to become the Assiniboia MLA.

In 2004, Winnipeg Fire Department Lieutenant Murray Davidson died at the age of 51 after more than two decades as a firefighter. Local 867 donated a park bench in his memory.

Finally, there is one park bench that I can not figure out who is being remembered. The bench reads:

“May your troubles be less and your Blessing be more and nothing but happiness come through your Door.

To our parents

Love the Walsh Girls.”

The costs of installing these park benches are covered by contributions of family and friends. The benches are guaranteed for 10 years, after which the previous contributors are asked to finance any replacement. If another private contribution is not secured, the bench is removed and the person is no longer remembered. Remembering history should not be contingent on private contributions to the replacement cost of this much needed infrastructure. Some park events like Canada Day and the Teddy Bears Picnic attract around 50,000 people. The City, which owns the park, should be grateful for the initial contribution. The maintenance and eventual replacement cost of these benches should be covered by the city.

Also, these benches should be viewed as an outdoor St. James museum to remember people.

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