What a Convention!

Presidents Report

- George Peterson

Well once again your Manitoba Branch of the Hong Kong Veterans of Canada, along with our Commemorative Association, can say that we did it. The Reunion was a tremendous success. I congratulate each and every one of you for your excellent co-operation, hard work and a job done well. The media coverage that was received was terrific.

I have received several phone calls due to the media coverage, requesting information, regarding some of our comrades. Their names are listed below:

H41688 David Chaboyer from St. Laurent

L28224 Ernest Malbeuf from Ituna, Saskatewan, listed as being in a Tokyo POW camp in Sept. 1945

L28212 Fred Malbeuf, brother of Ernest, listed as being Osaka POW camp Sept. 1945

H41843 Steve Yormola, listed in Tokyo POW camp in Sept. 1945

These inquiries have come to me from relatives of these men. Any information on these fellows would be greatly appreciated. Please phone me in Winnipeg at 256-7174.

I have also received a phone call regarding a diary that was kept by H 6685, Sgt. Thomas H. Sinclair. This diary was brought home by Tommy and a few years ago, some of the pages were given to some of our veterans to read and copy if they wanted. Please Comrades, if you have these pages, the family would like them returned. If the pages are recovered, we would like to make a copy of the complete diary for our records.

As another summer comes to an end, I sincerely hope you all had a good one. I was able to spend more time at our cottage at the lake this year and enjoyed it immensely. Until next time keep well and may the Good Lord keep you safe.

Winnipeg Grenadier's Hong Kong Trust Fund

- Donna Remillard

We are still seeking donations for the Winnipeg Grenadiers Hong Kong Trust Fund and cheques should be made out in that name (not HKVA). The Hong Kong Veterans' Association make a donation to this fund in memory of each deceased veteran member .

Contributions can be directed to Donna Remillard at 303-740 Kenaston Boulevard, Winnipeg, MB R3N 1Y3 or phone her at 489-0008.

Hong Kong Veterans' Commemorative Association

- Juliet Lafortune

If you have any questions, please call me at: home - 338-3354, cell - 294-9335.

Website Update

-Linda May

Our website, as some of you may already be aware, has a great new address!! You can find us at http://www.hkvca.ca how's that for easy!!!

We also have a great new look, and are working on a lot of great new features for the site.

We are gradually getting photographs for use on the site, but more is always better - any thing having to do with the HKVA or the HKVCA, the reunions, and of the functions that we have, or war time pictures would be great. If you have a scanner, you could scan them in and email them to hkvca@hkvca.ca If you dont have a scanner, you could mail them to Linda May, 121 Daubigny Road, Brantford, ON, N3T 6J4. I will scan them and return them to you.

Royal Rifles

For all you computer literates, check out this web site, www.geocities.com/rcwpca. This web site contains the memoires of Major M.A. Parker, from Quebec City, Quebec, who was the Officer Commanding "D" Company of The Royal Rifles of Canada. This site is in his honour and for the men of 'C' Force.

Ron Parker, son of Major Parker, with the help of his family, have produced the story, accompanied with pictures, as related in his father's diary. More information has been added to this site so bookmark the site and visit it often.

C.O.F.E.P.O.W

This acronym stands for Children (and Families) of Far East Prisoners of War and Carol Cooper is the Director of this group. She has a wonderful web site located at www.cofepow.org.uk.

Our British counterparts had a Pilgrimage to the Far East, similar to ours in December, 2000.

In April of this year they visited the places where their fathers lost their lives - Singapore, Borneo, Bangkok and Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). At these places they held memorial services and placed crosses, commemorating the tragedies that occurred in these countries. Places, where 2,500 men died on what is now known as the "Sandakan Death March" with only six Australians surviving. In Singapore was the Kranji War Memorial which contains the names of twenty four thousand service men who have no known grave. This memorial is in the centre of a large war cemetery and is beautifully maintained. Many of the members do not know what became of their fathers or brothers and their names would therefore be on this memorial, so many photographs were taken.

Their journey, like the one we Canadians had, was one of many tears but also much laughter as the shared experience bound them together - a closer knit family. Also like us, our counterparts feel that once is not enough and a return visit is a must.

Editor:

As we ponder the past with the mistakes that were made by our government during the Second World War, the events of September 11^th, 2001, have forced us to contemplate the future with the possibility of another conflict.

Let us hope that the heads of government will have accurate facts and full knowledge of the consequences of their actions before taking any major retribution. Also that the action be against the perpetrators of this heinous event and not the innocent people of these eastern countries, who have suffered enough by the hands of former and current dictators. One injustice does not warrant another injustice.

2001 Convention

The National Convention for the Hong Kong Veterans' Association and the Hong Kong Veterans' Commemorative Association was held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, August 15^th - 19^th, 2001.

Registration - 245 - of which there were 43 veterans present for the full convention with 4 more coming to the Saturday dinner. The veteran delegates represented all the Branches across Canada. The "Commemorative" delegates represented all the Regions with the exception of Alberta/Saskatchewan and the Maritimes.

The theme of the convention was "Passing the Torch" as the transfer of the administration would be taking place between the National Board of Directors of both the Hong Kong Veterans' Association and the Hong Kong Veterans' Commemorative Association. A new pin was created to represent this theme. The pin is in gold with the red background to the HK symbols and Winnipeg 2001 above the torch, across the top. This logo was represented on sweatshirts and table centres at the convention.

The convention began with Registration on Wednesday, August 15^th at the Holiday Inn Airport West in Winnipeg. Many of the veterans and their partners arrived during the day as the National Executive of the HKVA was meeting that night in camera. Due to Press Releases issued by National Council and the Manitoba Convention Committee the hotel was inundated with media requesting interviews from the veterans and the Executives of both Associations.

The Convention Committee had a room set aside for memorabilia to be on display - and what a display!! There was Ron McGuire from Ottawa; the 60 year old Winnipeg Grenadier quilt borrowed from Pilot Mound Legion; personal items from many of the members like scrapbooks, presentation of medals in cases, albums of pictures, sketches, etc. There was constant action in this room and many of the media used it for background for their interviews.

Thursday was Executive meetings for both the HKVA and the HKVCA. There was a Forks Tour arranged for the convention participants. Buses were used to transport the people on an arranged route with a hostess (Jodie Fast) pointing out notable places of interest to them until they arrived at the Forks. The Forks is a large area in central Winnipeg where the Red and Assiniboine rivers meet. There is shopping available, restaurants, museums, theatre, sports, etc. endless activities to enjoy. All too much to see in 3 hours. In the evening a "Meet & Greet" was arranged for all to gather and enjoy a social time with Ron McGuire making his historical presentation in an adjacent room.

General Meetings were held on Friday with the Mayor of Winnipeg, His Worship Glen Murray welcoming all participants to the Convention and recognizing this special occasion. The Hong Kong Veterans' Association conducted their business for the last time. Derrill Henderson will be making a full report. However the highlight of the meeting was the standing ovation given Harry Atkinson for his dedication and diligence in the award of 100% pension for all HK veterans due to avitaminosis. At the end of that agenda, Phil Doddridge of the Hong Kong Veterans' Association and Lora Wachtendorf of the Hong Kong Veterans' Commemorative Association assisted by Colour party members (Stan and Vince Lopada, Tim Klumper, Flash Clayton and Arnold Ross) with a new Colour party (Juliet Lafortune, Bill Kellas and Lucette Muir) solemnly completed the transfer of administration.

After a break, the Hong Kong Veterans' Commemorative Association held their General Meeting with Juliet Lafortune leading the Protocol Ceremony assisted by Bob Barter and Judy Preston. As there were some irregularities with the election process, this was declared null and void. Derrill reviewed some of the accomplishments of the 'Commemorative' like the posthumous medal for 'Gander' mascot dog of the Royal Rifles killed in battle; plaques in Hong Kong depicting three battle areas significant to the Canadians - Lawson's Bunker, Jardine's Lookout and Lye Yue Mun Gap.

Cliff Chadderton, unable to attend because of non-threatening surgery, consented to be the Patron of the Hong Kong Veterans' Commemorative Association. With a promise to clear up the election issues, the meeting adjourned.

Friday evening the Convention Committee arranged with the Folklorama festival for a tour of 2 pavilions complete with entertainment and food and drink and displays of those countries. Other than the food not being appropriate the evening was a success and enjoyed by all.

The impressive Memorial Service was held Saturday morning lead by Padre Gordon Shields, assisted by George Peterson, Harry Atkinson and Phil Doddridge. The Honour Roll was read by Bill Kellas (son of Willam Kellas, deceased) and Carol Hadley (daughter of Borge Agerbak, deceased). A very mystic and moving Ojibway Honour Song was performed by Dwayne Ward, assisted by his son Scott Ward and Linda Stewart (Dwayne's sister), issue of Cliff Carpenter, deceased. Wreaths were laid by representatives of the Government, Ron Duhamel (Canada), Bonnie Korzienowski (Manitoba), Bill Clement (Winnipeg); the veteran organizations - Hong Kong Veterans' Association of Canada, Aboriginal Veteran's, War Amps, Army Navy Air Force, Royal Canadian Legion, Korea, - the Hong Kong Widows (represented by Mary Sellers), the Hong Kong Veterans' Commemorative Association (represented by Barry Mitchell, son of Vaughan Mitchell, deceased) and for the Youth of Canada (represented by David Heinrichs, grandson of Fred Poitras).

An informal gathering of the HKVCA representatives was held in the afternoon to assist with newer members' questions and basically to open channels of communication between Regions in order to operate more efficiently and effectively. It was terrific to be able to meet and exchange ideas with people who had previously been a name on a letter or email. This also helped in bonding the representatives in their goals with the Association.

A Dinner and Dance was held in the evening and what a dinner!! Julie Lafortune and the Hotel coordinator did an outstanding job in selecting the menu. "Spice of Life" band with their assortment of music helped keep the feet tapping on the dance floor and at the tables. Draws were made both of cash and merchandise and several people ended up with some extra treasures.

Sunday morning brunch culminated several days of mixed feelings. Joy, to have seen new and old friends and sadness for those not there. By all accounts the Convention was a success. The Commemorative members charged with their new responsibilities and the Veterans' poised to help them in anyway, left to return to their Regions and continue to strengthen their Association.

Respectfully submitted

Carol Hadley

Since the convention, we received news that Bill Kellas, National Secretary of the 'Commemorative Association' has suffered some severe health problems and will be unable to continue in his position. Our prayers are with Bill and hopefully a quick recovery will result.