The war memorial in Dixon's Corners is located in front of the Matilda Community Hall. The monument commemorates local residents who served in the First and Second World Wars and was first dedicated in 1984. But over the past 36 years, its condition has deteriorated and is dire need of refurbishment. The full project is estimated to cost $60,000 and includes refurbishment of the original monument and bronze plaques from 1984, new walkways from the main entrance of the Matilda Hall over to the site, an elevated platform to display the cenotaph and monument, lighting, landscaping, a new flag pole, and other beautification items. Construction on the memorial began summer 2019. The project was complete and a dedication ceremony held before 2019’s Remembrance Day. The rededication ceremony was held Sunday Oct 27, 2019.
The $60K revamp of Matilda Cenotaph was done by mid-October after a $25K federal grant received from Veterans Affairs Canada through the Commemorative Partnership Program. The revamp was funded by the Legion, the Iroquois-Matilda Lions Club, and other people working on the project including Conservative Party candidate Eric Duncan. Their pitch to township council in Feb 19 2018 asked for South Dundas to contribute money towards the project. The proponents asked the township for $4,000 to replace the current asphalt walkway that leads from the parking lot to the entrance of Matilda Hall, where the memorial is located, with a walkway made of interlocking stone. The project also received major financial support of $10,000 from the South Branch Community Fund this spring. The Committee also accepted charitable donations and sold walkway bricks for $150 (income tax receipts provided).
On Sunday, October 27, the Matilda Monument and Cenotaph was rededicated. The colour guard of the Iroquois Legion, and the Kemptville Pipe Band leading the procession, politicians, dignitaries, service groups, families, friends and those who just wanted to pay their respects to the fallen, gathered outside Matilda Hall in Dixon’s Corners.
The new memorial, designed by Kevin Allen of Eastern Ontario Cemetery Memorials and Keith Ardron of Ardron Landscapes, cost $60,000, the funds raised through Veterans Affairs and the generosity of municipal and provincial governments, private donors and the sale of Memorial Bricks. Re-furbishing this memorial was something that Eric Duncan, several of whose family members served in World War II, had been interested in doing for some time.
One of the memorial bricks simply says “Thank you for the gifts: choice and freedom.”
