2018 starts with a big bang
With a toast and cannon fire, 2018 started with a bang, as the new year traditionally does in St. Catharines.
Mayor Walter Sendzik and members of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment, along with the 10th Battery, 56th Field Regiment, welcomed several hundred guests to the New Year’s Day levee at the Lake Street armoury, where each new year has been ushered in since the 1930s.
Among guests was Lt.-Col. Bernard Nehring, former commanding officer of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment.
Nehring was dressed as Thomas Clark, who was lieutenant-colonel in the militia during the War of 1812. He has worn the uniform since 2012 when the princess Countess of Wessex, Sophie Rhys-Jones, came from England to present new regimental colours.
“He lived in Niagara Falls, and I live in the Falls. He was a colonel, I was a colonel. I’m just 200 years out of phase,” Nehring quipped.
The uniform remains a magnet for people to take photos with.
“I bought the uniform, which turned out to be quite expensive. The amount of money I’ve got in it I want to get some use out of it.”
After a series of toasts and cannon fire, Sendzik thanked the Lincoln and Welland Regiment, 10th Battery Royal Canadian Artillery, for hosting the levee once again.
And he congratulated Lt.-Col. Christopher Cincio for his appointment as commanding officer of the regiment.
Lightheartedly, Sendzik said that in the history of the city and Lincoln and Welland regiment there has never been a time when both the mayor and regimental commander have both been of Polish ancestry. He said he asked Google if this was a sign of something — the reply was recipes for kolbassa and pierogies, which he thinks means a sustained period of peace and prosperity.
Sendzik began his New Year’s Day speech by honouring the veterans, the men and women and their families.
“We honour you with our gratitude for your courage and conviction,” he said. “The sunrise is a wonderful way to usher in a new year.
“As mayor, I could not be more proud of our hometown.
“What I want to say on this first day of 2018, is how proud I am that we have become a compassionate city.”
He praised residents for becoming an inclusive community, one where no one is left outside of the circle.
“That we don’t just care about one another, but take action to show compassion.”
He praised the Jaycees and the pee wee junior Falcons amongst others who have taken action.
“I can stand here and list more and more examples,” he said.
“We have been known as the Garden City, and now we are becoming known as the compassionate city.
“The message here today as we close that chapter on 2017 and welcome in a new year is a simple one. Continue to work together to ensure that were all standing inside the circle of community.” btymczyszyn@postmedia.com twitter.com/bobtym