Georgian dedicates new cenotaph at Orillia Campus

Students, staff and community members gathered for a special dedication ceremony of the new cenotaph at the Orillia Campus and commemoration of the 75^th anniversary of D-Day.

The cenotaph was almost three years in the making. It began as an idea Terri Doubrough, one of our library technicians, had to improve our Remembrance Day service at the Orillia Campus.

Terri teamed up with Mike Zecchino, Manager of Student Life, and the two developed a vision to create a dedicated space where students and staff would be reminded daily of the incredible sacrifices made by members of the Canadian Forces on our behalf.

The idea grew from a simple plaque on a boulder to an incredible full-sized monument. None of it would have been possible without Terri or Mike’s vision and the support they received from our community:

• Brian Robertson and Rick Purcell from the Royal Canadian Legion Orillia branch who guided us every step of the way to ensure the project was meaningful and respectful
• Bill Sheppard and Steve Sanderson from Signature Memorials who helped create the tasteful monument design
• Gay Ainsworth, who was instrumental in the Barrie Cenotaph project, and a great resource for this project
• Colleagues in Marketing and Communications and Facilities Management
• Orillia Campus Management team
• Karen Cordingley from The Den

Branch 34 of the Royal Canadian Legion generously contributed $5,000 from its Orillia poppy fund – half of what was needed to complete the project. The Georgian College Alumni Association and Georgian College Students’ Association stepped in to cover the remaining costs.

“Today, and every day, Georgian remembers,” says President and CEO MaryLynn West-Moynes. “This monument is so we never forget. May it keep us humble, grateful and ever mindful…not just on Remembrance Day but every day here at the college.”