Vanastra anniversary event, Hawley memorial set for Sept. 19

BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN

Plans are moving ahead for a celebration in Vanastra to mark the 50th anniversary of the closure of Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Clinton, which was located in the small community.

According to Huron East Councillor Ray Chartrand, who has been working with organizers and the Royal Canadian Air Force, the event is set for Sunday, Sept. 19 at 10 a.m. The event will consist of the unveiling of a memorial plaque to mark the location of the base and a military fly-over, along with comments from military dignitaries.

Also part of the planned ceremony will be the dedication of a memorial bench, donated by the Vanastra Optimist Club, which has since disbanded, to honour the late Jan Hawley, who was Huron East’s economic development officer until her death earlier this year. While Hawley had worked tirelessly for the municipality, Chartrand said, she had dedicated much of her time to reinvigorating Vanastra in recent years and telling that community’s story.

Chartrand said the festivities are expected to begin at 10 a.m. that day, with the fly-over scheduled for 11 a.m.

More details are expected as the event draws near.