Members of Lakeview Cemetery Burial and Cremation Services are grateful for the work that has gone into restoring the veterans installation at its Colborne Road site, as the Sarnia Legion marks its 100th year.
Lakeview Cemetery partnered with the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 62 and Memorial Restorations to rejuvenate the monument and the immediate area.
Lakeview Cemetery Board Member Brooke Daye said the work included the installation of an access ramp for the pavilion, flagpole refinishing, repainting and enhancing the monument's text, and some minor landscaping. Veterans' headstones were also professionally cleaned and revitalized.
Daye said while the work didn't take too long to complete, planning for the project began in the fall of 2025 after they had reached out to the Sarnia Legion.
"When they came back to us and said, 'Let's work together because we have this great opportunity in our 100th year, let's do this...' We were really happy! It's an opportunity to make that area of our property even nicer," Daye told Sarnia News Today.
Lakeview Cemetery was incorporated in 1879, but Daye said it's unknown when exactly the monument was first erected.
It currently sits under a large tree on top of a hill.
"This property is about 70 acres and there are a lot of nice places on the property; that's probably one of the nicer ones. So to make it look better, visually enhance it and bring it up to modern-day standards when it comes to access... the board was extremely happy about that," Daye said. "We felt grateful that it could all come together the way it did."
Lakeview Cemetery Board President Keith Rabidoux said in a statement the project is about respect, legacy, and responsibility.
"It was important not only to preserve this space, but to elevate it—ensuring it reflects the dignity and honour our veterans deserve,” said Rabidoux.
A commemorative ceremony will be held at Lakeview Cemetery on Sunday, June 7, to recognize the collaborative effort behind the restoration as well as the legion's milestone anniversary.
"As we approached this milestone, our centenary committee felt a strong responsibility to honour the military personnel who paved the way for us," said Legion President Les Jones in a statement. "Each year, we gather at Lakeview Cemetery to pay tribute to the veterans laid to rest together in a dedicated section. Refreshing this space was essential, a way to preserve its dignity and ensure future generations have a place to reflect, remember, and honour their sacrifice.”
The ceremony, which is open to the public, will begin at 11 a.m.
