Annual Highlander’s Levée honours historical hero

Annual Highlander’s Levée honours historical hero
Pictured is Col. Bill Shearing with a portrait and plaque of Col. Bergin (Marc Benoit/ Seaway News).

CORNWALL, Ontario – The Annual Regimental Family Levée of the Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry Highlanders regiment turned 149 this year, just one year younger than Confederation, and to make the special occasion, the regiment continued to honour the regiment’s first commanding officer, Col. Darby Bergin.

Col.Bergin was honoured late in 2016, with a commemorative plaque partially organized by the Ontario Heritage Trust, which is now located at Precious Blood Parish Cemetery in Glen Walter. Today, January 7, 2017, the regiment continued to honour the historical figure with another plaque, this time partially funded by three local Royal Canadian Legion branches, and to be kept at the Cornwall Armoury. 

“He was a significant person,” said Col. Bill Shearing, who has been studying Col.Bergin for over 5 years. “He was a very involved in the medical community, not only locally, but provincially, and eventually nationally, as a long term member of Parliament.” 

Col.Bergins was an instrumental figure in the initial post-Confederation settlement of Ontario, and the Cornwall area. He is credited with many achievements as Canada’s first Surgeon General, along with his work in Canadian Parliament, and is sometimes considered to have prevented the Cornwall area from falling prey to Fenian raids from Vermont, along with many other notable achievements in the early years of Confederation.  

The Levee follows a French tradition, first held on Canadian territory in 1646 in what is now Quebec. Today’s event included a light lunch for regimental officers and their families, a ceremony for the unveiling of the plaque, along with a bouncey castle as entertainment for the children attending. 

“We want to make sure that the unit is recognized in the community, especially with our 150th anniversary coming up next year,” said president of the Glen’s Association, George O’Dair. “Everything we’re doing is geared towards that.”

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