Military Ames, the veterans camaraderie group, has been notified by Veterans Affairs Canada that they have been successful in obtaining a $25,000 grant to assist with the restoration of the Kimberley Cenotaph.
The grant will assist with moving and rebuilding the cenotaph and will be matched by funds from the City of Kimberley.
However, fund raising is ongoing for the cenotaph site, which will be known as Kimberley Veterans’ Memorial Park. The Park will be located downtown on the former Bavarian Esso site.
Group facilitator Cindy Postnikoff says that now that the grant has been secured, it’s full steam ahead.
“We are now waiting for our surveyor to deliver his report on the site to the engineer,” she said. “We are expecting that this week. Then we’ll come up with a plan and look at hiring a general contractor.”
The new monument has been ordered and parts of the existing cenotaph will be incorporated into it.
“Now we need to raise funds for the park” Postnikoff said.
The plan is to have sidewalks around the perimeter and then a slope into the park. This will eliminate the need for a retaining wall.
Memorial benches will be sold and Postnikoff says there has been a good response to the benches.
“We are also getting a good response from contractors. We’ve had a lot of offers for in kind services or very good rates.”
There is a fund set up at Kootenay Savings Credit Union where donations can be made payable to Military Ames.
The next big fundraising event is an all weekend long flea market in the credit union parking lot JulyFest weekend.
Also watch for a Military Ames float during the JulyFest parade and fund raising at the bocce pits.
Military Ames plans to have the cenotaph erected on the new site by Remembrance Day 2016. Work on the park will be ongoing as funds are raised.