Veterans Hall Of Valour

[Marc Montgomery]

The Hall of Valour story is featured in the latest issue of CONVOY MAGAZINE (issue #11) just out now.
(http://www.geocities.com/convoymagazine)


I was advised in a private letter that money is coming. This story of June 12 seems to back that up. However, only when the cheque arrives can one be sure!

June 12, 2003
McRae's World
EARL McRAE -- Ottawa Sun
I got an unsolicited surprise phone call at home yesterday: Sheila Copps with the good news.

The Veterans Hall Of Valour organizers will probably be getting their grant.

She wants them to. She's the minister in charge of the government department, Canadian Heritage, that gives out such grants. And, says Sheila Copps, they qualify.

Copps called me after I'd written three columns going to war for the organizers who were angry after being informed by letter that their request for a grant to match what they'd raised privately -- at that time $105,000 -- for the establishment of the Hall, could not be considered.

The grant would qualify under her department's Cultural Spaces Canada program that includes "museum and heritage displays."

In a letter to Bob Campbell, president of the Hall Of Valour Inc., dated April 22, a minion in the prime minister's office told him his grant-request "correspondence and accompanying documentation" had been forwarded to Sheila Copps who will "appreciate the opportunity to review this information."

Campbell didn't hear anything until six weeks later, June 6, when he got a letter from Rodney Mercer, special assistant to Copps, "replying on behalf of Ms. Copps," and telling Campbell the minister has received his package but: "CSC is not accepting new proposals at this time."

Canadian Heritage is the same department that gave $1 million of your money to help set up the "Sidewalk Of Fame" in Toronto's theatre district to honour Canadian entertainers and athletes.

Their contributions to Canada pale dismally in comparison to those of our war veterans.

UNIQUE CONCEPT

The Veterans Hall Of Valour, unique in its concept, will pay individual tribute through portraits, citations, video and audio technology to each and every man and woman awarded combat military decorations in the wars throughout history in which Canada participated.

Those not decorated for gallantry will also be recognized individually in several books of honour.

Carleton Place has donated spacious areas in its heritage building Town Hall for the museum, scheduled to open to the public in 2005. The first 19 veterans were inducted, some posthumously, in a ceremony last Saturday night at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

In yesterday's column, I published the office e-mail address, phone number, fax number, and mailing address of Sheila Copps. Many of you have forwarded me your e-mails and faxes you sent her. Bless you: Power of the People.

"This is a project we'd definitely like to fund," said Copps, Liberal party leadership candidate, who went on to tell me of all the initiatives she's taken on behalf of veterans, and her reverence for veterans of whom her beloved late father was one.

'OVERSUBSCRIBED'

Copps explained that CSC is not accepting new proposals because there's no more money left in its current budget. "It was an $80-million program over three years that began in 2001. The problem is that it was so successful it was over-subscribed."

She said her department will be submitting a new budget to the Treasury Board for the next fiscal year "and this (Hall Of Valour) project qualifies." Good -- but Campbell should have had all this explained to him rather than being left with the impression his proposal wasn't worthy.

Copps went on at length to inform that the Hall Of Valour also qualifies for ongoing funding under her department's (money is available) Virtual Museum Of Canada program for audiovisual exhibits, and -- if it registers itself as a museum -- her Museums Assistance Program for such things as student staff, travelling exhibitions, and liaisons with other museums.

"We target communities outside the major centres, this fits in," she said. She asked me to have Bob Campbell phone her directly, "so I can help him setting up meetings with the right people."

Before she left the phone, Copps turned me over to Naline Rampersad, her director of communications, who said: "We are thankful to our Canadian heroes. We will do whatever we can to help them. When you are dealing with veterans, it's a win-win for all Canadians."

The Hall Of Valour is awaiting their victory, Sheila Copps.