HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-11-13, Page 3Wednesday, November 13, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 3
REMEMBRANCE DAY
Lucan school nixes community event
"The decision to have my child
attend the community service has
nothing to do with religion or culture
says Colin t iaskett as he discusses an
open letter he sent to fellow parents
regarding the community Remem-
brance Day service in Lucan.
"It had ('orale to my attention that,
students from Wilberforce Public
School will not be participating in the
Community Remembrance 1)ay Serv-
ice," said Haskett. And for that reason,
he sent a letter to parents explaining
his view and why the community serv-
ice is as important now as it was when
was a child.
ii
remember."
"1 laving the opportunity
to attend this event all the
way through my elementary
school education, it has
been instilled in ntc that
Remembrance Day is not a
holiday and it is not a reli-
gious event; it is the day you
stop, for a mere 60 minutes,
to reflect on those who gave
their lives for our freedom.
would not he writing a letter
to support having dress -up
day for Halloween or a
Christmas party before the
Having grown up in Lucan, I have had the
opportunity to participate in the Lucan
Community Remembrance Day Service almost
every year of my life. For those who may not
know, this has been a time where students (at
one time from 3 separate schools), teachers,
business people, young and old, and of course,
most importantly our local veterans have come
together to remember."
1lasket1, a parent of a Wilberforce
student, said over the last few years,
there have been some concerns raised
that had to be dealt with to ensure the
school's involvement in the commu-
nity event. Issues like size of the facility
to accommodate the number of stu-
dents that will attend, the logistics and
cost of busing these students, and the
concern that prayers are offered at the
'ervice.
Haskell told the Lakeshore Advance
at last year a school survey was sent
out asking parents if they wanted a
school service to go to the community
centre as they had done in the past. 1 le
said although he never saw the results
of that survey, it would appear that the
majority wanted their children to
attend the community service. This
year they were not given this option.
Although religion or prayer were not
his reasons for deciding to take his
child out of school that day, the prayer
aspect has taken on a life of its own.
"I laving grown up in Lucan, I have
had the opportunity to participate in
the Lucan Community Remembrance
Day Service almost every year of my
life. For those who may not know, this
has been a time where students (at one
time from 3 separate schools), teach-
ers, business people, young and old,
and of course, most importantly our
local veterans have conte together to
- Colin llrtaketf
break, but this is something
that l will stand behind
because I truly love and ant
grateful for the Canada in
which I ant so fortunate to
live," 1laskett explained in
his letter to the parents.
llaskett suit! this
Cold
front
coning
in?
has nothing to do with
offending cultures or reli-
gion; he just wants his rhil
Oren to he able to see the
significance of the commu-
nity service.
"As a child I remember
going to this service and all
the children from other
schools; both Catholic and
public were there. '!'here
were Veterans there and I
knew this had to he an
important event because
our entire community was
there. That is why I am so
passionate about the serv-
ice- a11(1 I want to have that
option for my children," Ile
said he has no problem with
Wilberforce having its own
service.
"I think it's important
that they (children) see that
this isn't just a school thing
- this is something that's
bigger than that," said
i iaskett.
While Wilberforce invited
the community to its core
tnony,
Haskett said he
couldn't be in two places at
once.
"I have a local business, I
('i1I1't lay two wreaths at the
same time and I can't par-
ticipate in two events," he
said.
After the story was
released one poster stated,
"this community driven cer-
emony is not about religion,
ironically. It's about Canada's
history and teaching our
children what was given so
they can continue to have a
future. In Lucan, the local
community leaders come
STAY COZY WII I I
1 IFAIING INCFN 1 IVIS
See inset t in
todety', lxtrcr
Il�/Cl l 0
one
Craig Glover Urni Agency
Colin Haskett stands in front of Wilberforce Public School, where his son attends
school, In Lucan on Wednesday. Haskett Is pulling his son out of school on
Remembrance Day to attend a memorial service at the Lucan Arena after school
officials decided to plan a memorial at the school.
together regardless of their religious
beliefs to honour this day in their owls
fashion with tolerance anti fairness in
taking turns. It's actually a day when
religious boundaries become less
important than the message of respect-
ing, honouring and never forgetting the
military service of average people and
their families. How this became a reli-
gious debate is beyond ane."
Since this story was released last
week , bussing was provided for the
service.
The community service usually
attracts about 5011 pupils, along with
parents, veterans and others, said Gary
Melvin, president of Lucan's Itoval
Canadian Legion branch.
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Morning
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