Ontario

Recognizing the multitude of sacrifices made both on the battleground and off, the Memorial Stone is a tribute to the bravery of our Canadian Armed Forces. The front of the stone features the Canadian Heroes Foundation logo. The Foundation strives to create awareness and support for front line responders, our fallen heroes and their families. The message engraved beneath the logo is a tribute to the courage and selflessness of those who serve our country — past, present and future.

The back of the stone features the artwork of United States Armed Forces veteran Danny Hahlbohm, most famous for his painting Footprints in the Sand. This image, entitled “Not Alone”, serves as a poignant reminder of the courage of every individual serving our country.

Other military memorials in Bravery Park include: A Canadian Soldier in Afghanistan, Memorial Stone, Playground, “Remember Always” Art Installation, Canadian Armed Forces Bench and Lest We Forget Bench.

A Canadian Soldier in Afghanistan was designed by local artists Donna Pascoe and Peter Turrell. They were contacted by Valerie McGrady, the mother of Corporal Matthew McCully who was killed by a roadside bomb on May 25, 2007. Matthew inspired everyone to create a statue depicting a soldier's bravery and compassion. Donna and Peter researched and met with soldiers that served in Afghanistan to talk about their experiences. Their ideas were shared and they passed around photos of proposed ideas, receiving input from a number of soldiers who guided them toward the final piece.

Donna borrowed a combat uniform for authenticity when creating the model for A Canadian Soldier in Afghanistan. She tried to imagine the multitude of thoughts and feelings both soldiers and citizens must have struggled with every day. Issues of duty, trust and fear. Donna chose to show a compassionate human side reflected in the heart-felt exchange between two Afghan children and the kind soldier kneeling in front of them.

The Canadian soldier, in full combat gear, shows a level of authority. Kneeling demonstrates courtesy and respect, the soft power of the soldier meeting eye to eye with the children captures a sensitive moment. The kindness in the soldiers face shows his compassion for the children.

Afghan children offer the gift of a swallowtail butterfly to the soldier as an act of trust and hope of peace. Common cultural depiction often use swallowtail butterflies to represent the grace and free nature of the ineffable human soul. Other concepts associated with swallowtail butterflies are hope, endurance, change, and life. A butterfly represents rebirth and new beginnings brought about by change, transformation, purity and wisdom. Offering of the butterfly by the children indicates they value these gifts and want to share them with the soldier. The children represent the future, the innocence of life, purity of childhood and our hopes for world peace, at large.

The statue is mounted in the center of a depiction of the Victoria Cross which was designed by Peter. A cross beneath the statue is representational of the Victoria Cross being silently awarded in recognition of all those that gave their lives, limbs and spirits in Afghanistan. The Victoria Cross is the highest decoration a soldier can receive.

Other military memorials in Bravery Park include: Memorial Stone, Playground, “Remember Always” Art Installation, Canadian Armed Forces Bench and Lest We Forget Bench.

The Why They Sacrificed plaque was installed by the Town of Orangeville Royal Canadian Legion Branch 233 and dedicated on August 14, 2005. 

The Euphrasia Memorial Hall was dedicated in 1971 to honour those from Euphrasia Township, who lost their lives in the World Wars. The building was later renamed to Euphrasia Memorial Community Centre.

The Fordwich Cenotaph was unveiled on November 11, 1920. It was meant to be the township’s record of heroism, but several names of local men were not included. The people of Wroxeter area sought to complete the record by erecting their own monument to the district’s fallen.

In 2016, Cliff Smith was commissioned by the Royal Canadian Legion Captain Fred Campbell VC Branch 134 to create a mural. The mural depicts the history of Canada's participation in various battles and wars from the First World War to the conflict in Afghanistan and has local history intertwined. It is broken into sections with piping as black lines so the pieces flow together. He began the mural in January and completed it in May.

The mural features battle scenes, Mount Forest Victoria Cross recipients Captain Frederick Campbell, and Lieutenant S. Lewis Honey, tanks and warplanes that were made in Canada, battleships, and a ship made in Newfoundland before it joined Confederation.

The museum has been operated by the Ontario Aviation historical society since 1970. The displays include WWI airplanes, aviation related memorabilia and dioramas. The museum honours the gallantry & distinction during the Great War 1914-18.

This South Luther Community Church Honour Roll is for the First and Second World Wars.

Valerie McGrady was inspired to create Canada’s first Bravery Park after the passing of her son Corporal Matthew McCully  Matthew was a member of Canada’s elite Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT), responsible for training the Afghan National forces. On May 25, 2007, while conducting a joint Afghan-Canadian foot patrol near a village west of Kandahar city, Matthew stepped on an improvised explosive device. Valerie’s son died not only trying to protect his country, but training Afghan soldiers to protect their own. 

Valerie and her daughter turned their grief into a vision of creating a living testament to the bravery of Canadian soldiers. Together, alongside a small committee, they drove an extensive fundraising campaign and fostered steadfast community support to build Bravery Park. A living and interactive space, Bravery Park promotes both awareness and understanding of the sacrifices and struggles our Canadian Forces undergo to promote peace here at home and worldwide. 

On September 3, 2021, Bravery Park was officially opened by the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and included a flyover by the Canadian Snowbirds and an 80-member military parade. View a short video of the opening at Orangeville’s Bravery Park pays tribute to Canadian soldiers. 

Schools and community groups regularly visit Bravery Park as it provides a tangible connection to some of our most recent international aid and peace keeping missions.  Valerie and Shannon provide guided tours and continue to give presentations about the multifaceted roles of our Canadian Armed Forces.

Military memorials in the park include: A Canadian Soldier in Afghanistan, Memorial Stone, Playground, “Remember Always” Art Installation, Canadian Armed Forces Bench and Lest We Forget Bench.

The Bravery Park™ initiative was created by Peter Prakke, and the Orangeville location would not have been possible without the extreme generosity, kindness and compassion of the Prakke family.

This Howitzer was issued to the Royal Canadian Artillery in 1940 and retired in 1967.