The Southshore Community Centre in Barrie is getting a new name fitting to the park it's connected to.
On Wednesday afternoon, Mayor Alex Nuttall announced the building, located on the waterfront at 205 Lakeshore Drive, will be renamed the General John Hayter Southshore Community Centre, in honour of retired Brigadier-General John Charles Hayter.
He served in the Canadian Armed Forces from 1951 to 2009, and the centre itself sits next to Military Heritage Park.
"A perfect place to honour Brigadier-General John Hayter, who contributed over half a century of dedication to the Canadian Armed Forces," Nuttall said to a crowd inside the centre.
"And it is fitting that this renaming is taking place in 2024, a year when we are recognizing so many anniversaries in the Canadian military including the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force, the 80th of D-Day, and soon to be the 80th of VE (Victory in Europe) Day."
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Nuttall said he also contributed to the establishment of Canada's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
In addition to his military service, Hayter has been an active member of the community with his volunteer work in organizations like Saint John Ambulance, the Veterans' Club of Barrie, and St. George's Church Allandale.
"I'm a Barrie boy,"
Hayter said.
"I consider myself a Barrie boy. I went to school here. Just across the street, our house - the first house. My parents, my dad was in the military out at Borden.
"I just fit in with the local people and became involved in different organizations. It's a wonderful city. It's full of wonderful people. And what can one say, It's just a pleasure to live here. It's an honour that I just received that was completely unexpected. And so, I'm indebted. I'm not sure what else to say except, thank you."
The City of Barrie is honouring the Canadian Armed Forces throughout 2024 and 2025, visit barrie.ca/HonouringMilitary to learn more.
