MOUNT PLEASANT Brant County celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee on Saturday by dedicating a new peace garden in Mount Pleasant Nature Park.
“This is our little take on the Queen’s Jubilee celebration,” said Sarah Dredge, Brant’s recreation co-ordinator. “We have partnered with the Mount Pleasant Optimist Club today to honor the Queen.”
The ceremony took place in front of the newly planted garden.
“This is the year of the garden, and it was appropriate to have a long-lasting garden here,” said club president Walt Vogt.
“If you look at the shape, it’s shaped like a shield.
He said the garden fits well within the park, which is managed by the Optimists on behalf of the county.
“Everyone will see it – it’s very eye-catching.”
He noted that the park itself is a “hidden gem” in the county.
“This garden represents our respect to the monarchy, as well as our ongoing friendship and gratitude to our neighboring communities,” said Stacey Ellins, Brant’s director of recreation services.
Brant Mayor David Bailey said the Queen is a “very good representative to what can happen when you dedicate your life to service.
“We are here gathering to show respect for a woman, who when she was a young girl, made a commitment for life – whether her life was short or long – to serve people, her country, and the world in part,” he said .
“I hope that people use this bench and come to this place, which is a very peaceful place, and think about everything she’s done and her commitment and how unusual it is that someone could commit her entire life to service. She has done it with such grace and with such presence.”
Brant’s town crier Larry Davis read an official proclamation from England that was shared by town criers across the British Commonwealth.
“The theme is that Elizabeth II is the Queen of the Commonwealth, and for 70 years,” said Davis.
Ethan Leduc from the Paris Port Dover Pipe band played Diu Regnare.
“It’s a tune we (pipers) are all playing,” said Leduc.
After the ceremony, visitors participated in a storybook walk, painting rocks that would be placed in the garden, garden games and a nature scavenger hunt.