Monument honouring drowning victims unveiled

An unveiling ceremony was held last Sunday followed by a lunch and refreshments at the East Side Community Center.

The group behind the project named themselves after another location proposed for the monument.

“We called ourselves the Pubnico-Light Monument Society because our first proposed site was down the Lighthouse Lane in Lower East Pubnico,” said secretary Sally Malone.

“We were interested in trying to get the lighthouse transferred to the community but we found out that it would be a long process because of the legal aspects to get it transferred. They told us it could take up to five years. Therefore our next site was the Old Stone Bridge in East Pubnico.”

“The Lighthouse and the Stone Bridge are the two main symbols of our community and we want to preserve them,” she said.

The Department of Highways transferred the bridge property to the municipality, which in turn granted permission to the society to erect the monument.

It took four years for funds to be raised through bake sales; ticket draws on donated items, chowder sales, and letters requesting donations from local businesses and fishermen in the community.

“This was a huge success. Especially with the fishermen, they all came through for us,” said Malone.

The monument is inscribed with 102 names and encompasses from the business Paul d'Entremont Marine to the end of Charlesville.

Kathy Garron-Amirault and Joanne Larkin researched the victims at various archives, through phone calls and interviews. The drowning deaths took place from the 1800's to present day.

The Pubnico-Light Monument Society has also published a book called ‘Life's A Voyage’.

A similar monument honouring West Pubnico drowning victims also exists.