Joseph A. Ghiz Memorial
Park - Brick of Honour Campaign
Lake of Shining Waters IODE Centennial Millennium Citizenship Project.
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Joseph A. Ghiz Memorial Arch
The wrought iron Joseph
A. Ghiz Memorial arch is located at the entrance of the park, corner of Kent and
Edward Streets. It features maple leaves and the Province of Prince Edward Island
Coat of Arms (oak trees). Former Premier Joseph A. Ghiz was eulogized as a passionate
defender of Canada and the maple leaves represent his tireless efforts for Canadian
unity.
Four flagpoles grace
the fountain area. These poles are 25 feet high and fly the Canadian, Provincial
and City Flags as well as the IODE Corporate Logo Standard. RCMP Cst Kim Hendricken
sang O Canada at the beginning of the cermony and Song for Canada as the flags
were officially raised. These songs represented and recognized the efforts of
former Premier Joseph A. Ghiz to have a unified Canada.
The octagon
pisa wall features a fountain with a little girl and boy and a colourful autumn
display of mums. The little girl and boy represents the IODE mission to improve
the quality of life for children and youth.
The large
pisa wall outlines the Province of Prince Edward Island Coat of Arms which uses
shrubs to replicate the three little oak trees and the large oak tree as featured
on the Provincial Flag. The mature oak tree signifiles the Oak of England. The
three saplings represent the Provinces three counties, Kings, Queens and Prince
County. They rise from a single base denoting that Britain and Prince Edward
Island are Islands.
Two basket ball nets and a 25 x 45 paved basket ball area were added to the
park. Many youth in the area are presently using and enjoying this basket ball
area contained in this green space.
Children sitting
in front of the gazebo.
The special guests included Lt. Governor Leonce Bernard and Mrs. Florence Bernard as well as Rose Ellen Ghiz and other members of the Ghiz family. The Boys in the Kitchen entertained and the Lake of Shining Waters IODE chapter provided refreshments which included corn on the cob, mussels, hot dogs, sausage, cake, popcorn and pop. The chapter mascot, "Star", Blossom the Clown (Mary Baglole/chapter member) and the Confederation Players were all on hand to help celebrate. A special souvenir program included the opening ceremonies and the names of all those that have purchased clay, corporate and endowment bricks.
The special guests were lead in by a bagpiper and flags carried by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, City of Charlottetown Police, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides and Lake of Shining Waters IODE Chapter.
The large Lake of Shining Waters IODE Endowment Brick displays the IODE logo, mission statement and information on the chapter's Centennial Millennium Citizenship Project.
The International Year of Volunteers Corporate Brick is next to the Lake of Shining Waters IODE brick and is surrounded by other non-profit charitable organizations.
The Yukon brick was of special interest. The inscription read, "Honouring a great Canadian for his tireless work in building national unity."
The clay bricks include the Lake of Shining Waters IODE members. These were installed all in two rows under the corporate chapter brick.
This garden is located next to the gazebo in the Joseph A. Ghiz Memorial Park. Vesey's in York, PE donated a supply of bulbs to Lake of Shining Waters IODE last fall. The garden is a blaze of colour summer 2005.
Lake
of Shining Waters IODE donated a picnic shelter (16x32) to the City of Charlottetown
in 2005. This is in celebration of the City's 150th birthday. It is located
in the Joseph A. Ghiz Memorial Park near the new parking lot on Kent Street.
The picnic shelter is wheelchair accessible. A large brick in the pathway recognizes the contribution of businesses who donated materials or labour. Holland College Carpentry students built the shelter off site and moved it in March 2005. They were assited by Holland College Construction Technology students who supervised the foundation construction.
The IODE chapter donated 2 octagon tables, garbage can, butt stop and five benches. There is seating for 26 people. Already this summer the picnic shelter has attracted family gatherings, birthday parties and tourists. A grant from Cotton Memorial Trust Fund for Public Parks enabled the chapter to have the landscaping done professionally.
A 150th birthday party is being planned for September 14th, 2005. Daycares and the general public are being invited to attend a barbeque. They will be treated to a magic show, music and clowning. Mayor Clifford Lee will read the Robert Munsch book, Love You Forever. This is in celebration of the National Chapter of Canada IODE Read for Life Program which focuses on ages 0 - 6 in 2005.
The Joseph A. Ghiz Memorial Park is the chapter's IODE Centennial Millennium
Citizenship Project.
Lake
of Shining Waters IODE donated a 16x32 picnic shelter to the Joseph A. Ghiz
Memorial Park in celebration of the City of Charlottetown's 150th birthday in
2005. It was placed on the Kent Street site March 10, 2005 near the new parking
lot. The shelter was built by the Holland College Carpentry Class assisted by
the Construction Technology students.
This shelter would not have been possible without the generosity of several
businesses and individuals. The Parks and Recreation Department was very supportive
of this project.
The shelter will be wheelchair accessible and will contain octagon picnic tables
and benches.
Lake of Shining Waters IODE anticipates that many children's and senior's groups
will use the picnic shelter for picnics as well as arts and crafts. It is located
next to the flooded rink area and will be a "shelter for all seasons."
Children will be able to lace up their skates in the shelter.
This gift to the community will be a lasting legacy. Lake of Shining Waters
IODE continues to fulfill the IODE mission statement which is to help improve
the quality of life for children, youth and those in need.
This mural
is painted on a downtown business window. It depicts the new picnic shelter
which was donated to the Joseph A. Ghiz Memorial Park.
The Construction
Assoc. of P.E.I. Skills Link Group helped plant 6000 tulip bulbs in the Joseph
A. Ghiz Memorial Park in November 2004.
The Wintertide
train and holly were on display for the first time Christmas 2004. The gazebo,
fountain, shrubs and arch were also decorated.
The Construction Association of P.E.I. Skills Link Youth Project assisted Lake
of Shining Waters IODE with spring clean up and ongoing maintenance of the Joseph
A. Ghiz Memorial Park. They worked as a team learning gardening skills such
as edging, weeding, mulching etc.
Photo right
- Aqua Health employees and Smitty's Family Restaurant
This year Aqua Health staff volunteered their services in the company's corporate community volunteer day program. They spent the entire day planting annuals in the park. This was a major undertaking and Lake of Shining Waters IODE appreciated their partnership in this endeavour.
Each year
the IODE chapter sells Smitty's $10 gift certificates to raise money to purchase
the annuals. Smitty's Family Restaurant is the major sponsor of the annual flower
purchase.
The
Canada World Youth group planted 5000 tulip bulbs in the Joseph A. Ghiz Memorial
Park December 2003. Vesey's in York, P.E.I. has donated thousands of bulbs to
the park each year.
Lake of Shining Waters IODE provided trowels and work gloves for everyone. The Canada World Youth group was treated to lunch at Smitty's after working in the park.
In the photo right: Members of Canada World Youth plant tulip bulbs in the Joe Ghiz Memorial Park. Youth from across Canada and Jamaica spent three months on PEI and then went to Jamaica for three months. From left are Camelle Bennett, Troy Anglin, and Chandra Young-Boyle.
In the photo above: Marlene Bryenton, Joseph A. Ghiz Memorial Park, Project Coordinator and members of Canada World Youth say thank you to Vesey's during their bulb planting bee.
Katamavik volunteers cleaning up garbage and planting flowers at Joseph A. Ghiz
Memorial Park.
Lake of Shining
Waters IODE has partnered with the City of Charlottetown and is responsible
for ongoing maintenance of the park. The IODE chapter has had the assistance
of Katamavik, Charlotteotwn Adventure Group and inmates from the Provincial
Correctional Centre. Weekly maintenance is done on the park weeding, edging
and mulching. Some of the Katamavik participants are pictured with the tulips
donated by Vessey's Seeds, York, P.E.I.
Lake
of Shining Waters IODE won first prize in the Communities in Bloom Contest in
the Community Effort Category. The chapter received a beautiful cement stepping
stone with the Communities in Bloom logo on it. In the photo are three Katamavik
participants who helped in the park. The City of Charlottetown has nominated
the Lake of Shining Waters IODE Centennial Millennium Citizenship Project, the
Joseph A. Ghiz Memorial Park for a national Communities in Bloom award. The
announcement will be made in Kelowna, B.C. in October 2002.
Lake
of Shining Waters IODE chapter members are selling Smitty's $10. gift certificates
to raise money for the maintenance of the Joseph A. Ghiz Memorial Park. During
the summer of 2002 two picnic tables and annuals valued at $1000. were donated
by the chapter. Phone 892-8931 to order certificates.
Lake of Shining Waters
IODE entered a large float in the Gold Cup and Saucer Parade in August. The
float promoted the chapter's Centennial Millennium Citizenship Project the Joseph
A. Ghiz Memorial Park Brick of Honour Campaign. Theme for the parade was, "It's
Showtime" and "Playgrounds are Fun". On board the float were four movie stars
from Hollywood including Stella Stevens - Poseidon Adventure and General Hospital,
Hank Garrett - Car 54 Where are You, Michael Callen - Cat Ballou and Edd "Kookie"
Byrnes - Grease and 77 Sunset Strip. The float also had children playing in
a playground setting and a live band, Solomon Dean entertained the crowds. A
brick with the four stars names will be installed in the park this summer.
The Leaf of Honour Campaign was held at the Atlantic Super Store in Charlottetown
in September. Funds raised from this project will be used for the Joseph A.
Ghiz Memorial Park. A statue, fountain, flowerbeds, park furnishings and flagpoles
are scheduled to be donated next summer. The inscribed orange, red and yellow
maple leaves sold for $1, $2 and $5. The display included a tree with mini lights,
real coloured maple leaves, green carpet, solitude music with birds chirping
and stuffed animals.
The maple leaf was significant for two reasons: the maple leaf is part of
the IODE logo and former Premier Joseph A. Ghiz was well known for his Canadian
unity efforts. 
Lake of Shining Waters
IODE promoted their Brick of Honour Campaign through a wreath which was entered
in the Confederation Centre Christmas Wreath Contest. The wreath featured a
gazebo, bricks, bird's nest and autumn leaves.
Leaf of Honour
Joseph A. Ghiz Memorial Park Sign
Lake of Shining Waters
IODE installed a new sign in the Joseph A. Ghiz Memorial Park this summer. It
includes the IODE logo and inscription acknowleging the chapter's centennial
millennium project and information on how to order a brick in the Brick of Honour
Campaign. Ghiz, the province's 33rd premier, served in that capacity from 1986 to 1993.
He died in November of 1996 after a battle with cancer at the age of 51. At
the time of his death, Ghiz was a justice of the PEI Supreme Court.
The park, which will bear his name, is located just blocks away from the house
where the premier grew up at the corner of Hillsborough and Grafton Streets.
The Grafton Street East
Park, recently renamed the Joseph A. Ghiz Memorial Park by Lake of Shining Waters
IODE, will feature a memorial fountain and other appropriate tributes to the late
Premier.
Several members of the Ghiz family, including Rose Ellen Ghiz, widow of the former premier, were on hand for the occasion.
The memorial tribute to the late premier Joseph A. Ghiz recognizes his passionate and unwavering commitment to Canada and its cultural foundations.
This project was developed to encompass the IODE mission.... The IODE is a Canadian women's charitable organization which improves the quality of life for children, youth and those in need through educational social service and citizenship programs.
With the co-operation of Mayor George MacDonald and Pat Connolly, Councillor
for ward two, as well as the city recreation department, the chapter undertook
this major fund raising campaign.
A gazebo, picnic table, garbage containers, park benches and an IODE Centennial flowerbed have already been donated.
Photo: Mayor George
MacDonald, Perlene Morrison, Lake of Shining Waters IODE citizenship officer,
Councillor Pat Connolly, Marguerite Ghiz, mother of Joseph A. Ghiz, and Marlene
Bryenton, Lake of Shining Waters IODE project coordinator.
The program called "Brick of Honour" invites Island residents and visitors to
purchase a paving brick for $25. The engraved brick will form part of a special
dedicated area in the park, and will serve as a permanent legacy of the people
who have donated to the pathway, to acknowledge volunteers and other tributes.
You may honour a volunteer, volunteer organization, corporate company, staff member, friend, family member or memorial tribute with an inscribed brick.
Each clay brick is 4" x 8" and costs $25. Twelve characters including spaces and punctuation can be inscribed on each of two lines.
Each patron/corporate brick is 8" x 20" and costs $250. The patron/corporate brick can accommodate logo and 12 characters including spaces and punctuation on each of three lines.
Each corporate endowment brick is 16" x 40" and costs $2,500. It can accommodate logo and 26 characters including spaces and punctuation on each of eight lines.
For
more information contact:
Email: iode@isn.net
or
Lake of Shining Waters IODE
16 Bolger Drive,Charlottetown
PEI C1A 7W2
