Cenotaph defenders come out in force

By Jim Blake & Bruce Corcoran

Mayor Randy Hope said he’s surprised by the level of anger by some opponents of his proposal to consider moving Chatham’s cenotaph.

Hope said he’s received dozens of e-mails with personal insults over his comments made during last week’s Chatham-Kent council meeting.

“I’m not an idiot, and I don’t appreciate being called one,” he said. “I’m trying to have a wholesome discussion about the cenotaph because if we are going to do anything, this is the time to do it.”

The municipality has applied for up to $1 million in funding under the Canada 150 fund established to celebrate the nation’s sesquicentennial in 2017.

“If we’re going to examine the future of the downtown core for the next several decades, the cenotaph should be part of that discussion,” he said. “It’s my personal belief that the cenotaph should be moved because it doesn’t get the respect it deserves in its current location.”

Hope said those who question his respect for veterans are out of line.

“The entire reason I raised the issue is because I want the cenotaph to be more prominent. It’s that simple.”

The mayor suggested Legion Memorial Park on the north side of the Thames River, or a vacant lot at the corner of King and Third Street next to the Kent Club as possible locations.

“It (the cenotaph) should be off of the street, and someplace that will allow proper reflection of what it stands for,” he said.

If public feedback to Chatham’s six councillors is any indication, moving the cenotaph from the Sixth Street location where it’s been since 1923 will be an uphill fight.

Coun. Doug Sulman said he’s had “non-stop e-mails” from constituents opposed to the idea.

“People are extremely angry over this. They consider the location almost like sacred ground.”

Coun. Michael Bondy said he’s received “incredibly negative” response.

“I received 40 e-mails right off the bat,” he said. “It’s rare to get feedback like this so quickly.”

Bondy said he believes there is “zero appetite “ to move the cenotaph and went so far as to prepare a mass e-mail for constituents saying in part, “moving or removing the cenotaph is NEVER going to happen … the only positive thing erupting from this controversy is that your municipal council is very aware of the importance of the cenotaph.”

Bondy said Hope’s logic is “kind of weak” and that if anything council should be looking at making the cenotaph site more memorable.

“I’ve suggested that we could make the site better, a kind of memorial square. Moving it after almost a hundred years is just wrong.”

Coun. Bob Myers said he’s received more than 60 e-mails with only one in favour of moving the Cenotaph.

“There are people questioning the mayor’s motives and it’s pretty clear based on what I’ve heard that this is not going to have any support.”

Coun. Brock McGregor has no idea where the mayor came up with the idea to move the cenotaph.

“That’s the first time I ever heard that comment. I think it was off the cuff,” he said.

He said the comment was particularly head scratching, considering council just approved the submission to a federal grant that would allow the municipality to approve the downtown streetscape, including around the cenotaph.

The Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program is offering up to $1 million in federal funding over two years to “support the rehabilitation, renovation and expansion of existing community infrastructure,” according to the federal website.

“It’s a pretty extensive plan around where the cenotaph is, and it revolved around the cenotaph being there,” McGregor said of the Chatham-Kent application.

McGregor said council has never discussed the idea of moving the cenotaph.

“I haven’t had a complaint about where the cenotaph is. People are really pleased with what’s going on to enhance where the cenotaph is to make it more of a focal point,” he said.

Coun. Darrin Canniff said the complaints certainly began flowing in regards to moving the monument.

“In the six months I’ve been on council, I’ve gotten maybe 30 letters at most. I’ve probably got 16 and counting on this issue,” he said.

Canniff said the idea of moving the cenotaph just isn’t feasible.

“It’s like 80 tons. It’s a huge thing,” he said.

He added the public likes it right where it is.

“Based on the comments I’ve received, it’s certainly not going anywhere fast.”

Coun. Derek Robertson thinks the entire issue is somewhat overblown, all from an informal comment at the end of a council meeting.

“It was probably a remark that wasn’t steeped in a whole lot of public consultation. Nobody’s done any empirical research on moving the cenotaph. This is the biggest non-story of the year,” he said. “At the end of the day, we’ve made more out of this than ever needed to be done. There was no conversation at the council table – closed or open – to move the cenotaph.”

He agreed with Canniff that the public feedback on the matter is to leave the cenotaph where it is.

Darlene Simmons, a concerned local citizen, can’t believe the issue was even mentioned casually around the council table.

“It was put there for a reason. It needs to be left where it is,” she said.

But she believes if the veterans wish the cenotaph to be moved, then that changes things.

“I think the veterans should be the ones to say to move it if they want it moved. It should be up to the veterans of our city,” the long-time local resident said. “What gives him (Hope) the right? Did he fight in the war for us?”

Mayor Hope said he’s certainly not about to apologize for his comments.

“Do we have to move it? The answer is no,” Hope said. “Do we need to talk about it? Absolutely. It’s my job to bring forth ideas. I’ll continue to do that.”

It’s an idea that hasn’t gone over well, including with this local veteran: