Senior Centre, Friendship Centre honour veterans 

Tim Brody - Editor

The Sioux Area Seniors Activity Centre and the Nishnawbe-Gamik Friendship Centre are honouring veterans with special window displays.

The display at the senior’s centre depicts doves, poppies, as well as the phrases Lest we forget, and We will remember them.

Senior centre member Charron Sippola came up with the design, which she painted onto the window with fellow senior centre member Joan Kydd.

“Simple. Good message. That’s all I can say,” Sippola shared, adding, “The poppy is a symbol, and the dove is a symbol of peace, and the words are clear.”

NGFC Program Manager Ashely Edwards shared, “We’ve been trying every year to utilize our window, just with COVID and everything, as a bit of a way to mark special holidays and to display our support for certain things as well. We decided this year to continue what we did last year for National Indigenous Veterans Day, which is just to display some of the names of the Indigenous veterans from our area as well as display some artwork from our staff member Jim Oskineegish...just let the veterans know we’re here and we’re remembering and honouring them.”

Edwards is encouraging people to submit photos and names of their loved ones who participated in any war or conflict to the Friendship Centre to be part of their annual display, which she is hoping will continue to grow. Edwards said the display depicts the names of 102 Indigenous veterans from across Northwestern Ontario.

People can find out more about Indigenous veterans and National Indigenous Veterans Day at https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/people-and-stories/indigenous-veterans.