The Provincial Paper Limited plaque was commissioned in 1948 to honor the 18 employees of the Georgetown paper mill who lost their lives during the Second World War. Crafted from bronze and weighing approximately 100 pounds, the plaque prominently displayed the names of the fallen. For decades, it hung within the mill as a tribute to the sacrifices made by its workers during the war.
In 1991, the Abitibi Provincial Paper Mill, formerly known as Barber Coated Paper Mill, then Provincial Paper Ltd. and one of Georgetown’s largest employers, ceased operations. During the process of clearing out the building, the plaque was removed and entrusted to the Georgetown Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 120. While the Legion initially planned to install it at Greenwood Cemetery, its significant size and weight led to it being stored temporarily in the cemetery’s maintenance garage. Over time, the plaque was misplaced behind other stored items and remained forgotten for nearly two decades.
In 2011, Shel Lawr, a Second World War Veteran and long-time member of the Georgetown Legion, recalled the plaque’s existence while reading about a similar effort to honor Veterans at Georgetown District High School. Motivated by the story, Lawr contacted the Town of Halton Hills’ Parks and Open Spaces department to investigate its whereabouts. A town employee rediscovered the plaque in the cemetery’s storage shed, untouched since its placement there 20 years earlier.
Recognizing its significance, Lawr and other local advocates concluded that it should be displayed prominently at Remembrance Park, a site dedicated to honoring those who served in Canada’s wars. Lawr collaborated with Martin Bosomsa and Tom Schenk, who oversaw additions to the park, to ensure its placement.