Arnprior Veterans

Mac Beattie Drive commemorates John MacNab Beattie. Mac was born and raised in Arnprior, attended Arnprior high school, played goalie for the Arnprior Greenshirts, and went on to play for the Nanaimo Clippers before serving in World War II. After the war, Mac returned home to start a family and perform professionally with his old-time music group the Ottawa Valley Melodiers. Mac was inducted into the Country Music Hall of fame, writing songs like the Log Drivers’ Song, This Ottawa Valley of Mine, and Meet Me in Arnprior, written for Arnprior’s Centennial year. Mac Beattie Drive is located off Daniel Street in the Fairgrounds Subdivision.

Allan Francis Bond served as an infantryman in the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa during the Second World War. He was also held as a Japanese Prisoner of War. Bond was also the recipient of a 1939-1945 Star, France Germany Star, Defence Medal. Allan Bond Court is located off Thomas Street South near the Nick Smith Centre.

A decorated war veteran, Edward Vincent Evans served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Evans was involved in seven landings including a risky individual mission on D-Day. As well, he made numerous runs on the famous “Murmansk Run” delivering vital supplies to Britain’s seriously threatened wartime ally, Russia. Vince received the Arctic Medal from the United Kingdom for this action. He was also the recipient of the Defence Medal, four Russian Medals, Normandy Medal, 1938-1945 Star, France Germany Star, French Overlord, Pacific Star, Atlantic Star, North African Star and Italy Star. His “Eight Stars” represented eight different military campaign that he participated in between 1941 and 1945. Edward Vince Evans Court is located off Madawaska Boulevard in the Madawaska Village subdivision.

Born in 1925, Gordon Fergusson served as a private with the 1^st Canadian Parachute Battalion during the Second World War. In 1943, Fergusson enlisted at the age of 18 and fought alongside the 6^th British Airborne Division at Normandy. He was wounded in battle and returned to Canada. After the war, Fergusson worked at Kenwood Mills for over 50 years and raised his young family alongside his wife Mildred Presley. He was also an active member of the local Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 174 where he laughed, shared stories and listened to bagpipe music. Gordon Fergusson Place is located off Edey Street in the Callahan Estates subdivision.

Born in 1924, Thomas Alexander Gavinski served during the Second World War. Gavinski enlisted in the Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment on January 15^th, 1939 and was subsequently transferred to the Regular Force, 1^st Canadian Parachute Battalion in 1943, fighting with the 6^th British Airborne Division. He received the 1939-1945 Star, France Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, War Medal and Canadian Forces Decoration with Clasp. After the war, he enlisted with the 178 Battery 59^th LAA Regiment (Renfrew) and retired at the rank of Captain in October 1972. He was responsible for bringing home a World War II French poem entitled “The Paths to Freedom”. The poem was given to him by a resident of France who expressed “his tribute to freedom”. Gavinski was also an active member of the local Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 174 and the Arnprior Knights of Columbus. Tom Gavinski Street is located off Edey Street in the Callahan Estates subdivision.

Born in 1914, Bertram Hall served in the Second World War and was a lifelong member of the local Royal Canada Legion Branch No. 174 (66 years) He was also a member the Air Force Association of Canada Branch No. 433 (“The Wing” in Renfrew). After the war, Hall worked as a physical education teacher at Arnprior District High School and served as the Town of Arnprior’s Recreation Director from 1949 to 1979. He was also the founder of the Arnprior Senior Citizens Club and a life member of the Directors of Municipal Recreation of Ontario organization. In recognition of his service to the Town of Arnprior, Arena A at the Nick Smith Centre has been renamed as the “Bert Hall Arena”. Bert Hall Street is located off Vanjumar Drive in the Village Creek / Olympia subdivision.

Born in 1917, Mona Ethelyn McBride served with the Canadian Women's Army Corps during World War Two. McBride enlisted on July 21^st, 1942 and she was stationed at Kingston and Kemptville working as a driver and then clerk within the freight and transport section. Holding the rank of Sergeant, she was tragically killed after being struck by a C.N.R. passenger train on June 3^rd, 1944. In honour of her service, Mona McBride Drive is located off Edey Street in the Callahan Estates subdivision.

Born in 1925, Leo James Moskos served as a seaman on the minesweeper HMCS Sarnia during the Second World War. After the war, Moskos was an active businessman with the Moskos Sugar Bowl restaurant which was located at the intersection of Elgin Street West and John Street North. He was also a Past President and life member of the local Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 174. Leo Moskos Street is located off Edey Street in the Callahan Estates subdivision.

Maurice Joseph Robillard served in the 1^st Royal Canada Regiment during the Korean War. He received the Korean Medal and the Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp. A lifelong Arnprior resident, Robillard participated in the local Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 174 for over 37 years. Moe Robillard Street is located off Madawaska Boulevard in the Madawaska Village subdivision.

Born in 1925, McGregor Alexander Scobie served with the Stormont Dundas Glengarry Highlanders during the Second World War. Although underage, he signed up for the war effort with his friend Harold Barr and after initial training, he was sent to Aldershot, England. Scobie participated in the D-Day invasion and was wounded less than two weeks into the mission. He returned to Arnprior in 1944 where he met a local young lady named Lillian who became his wife. After the war, Scobie worked his entire life in McNab Township and at the Civil Defence College in Arnprior. McGregor Scobie Crescent is located off Vanjumar Drive in the Village Creek / Olympia subdivision.

Born in 1926, Leonard Minifer Spinks served in the Canadian Armed Forces during the Second World War. Spinks enlisted at Fort Frontenac in Kingston in 1944 and served with the Toronto Scottish Vicors Machine Gun Regiment and the 1^st Airborne Regiment. In 1945, he was transferred to the Canadian Provost Corps at Old Fort Henry where he created a rehabilitation program for prisoner of war veterans re-entering civilian society. After returning to Arnprior and building a family with his wife Elizabeth Marian Guillemette, Spinks worked at Kenwood Mills for 16 years, as an Auxiliary OPP officer for 10 years and with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation for 27 years. He is also active in the community with the local Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 174, Masonic Lodge and Elgin Street Baptist Church. Leonard Spinks Way is off Edey Street in the Callahan Estates subdivision.

Born in 1921, Conway Neal Tearle served as a dispatch runner for the Armoured Corps during the Second World War. Tearle joined the army on June 1, 1942 and took his voluntary release on February 18^th, 1947. His service was recognized with the 1939-1945 Star, France Germany Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp, and the War Medal (1939-1945). After the war, he worked at the Civil Defence College until his retirement. Conway Tearle Street is located off Edey Street in the Callahan Estates subdivision.

Bert Tourangeau served in the Royal Canadian Navy on the Corvette HMCS Wetaskiwin during the Second World War. The Corvettes were charged with protecting the vital convoy shipments of goods to Great Britain during the Battle of the North Atlantic. After the war, Tourangeau worked for M. Sullivan and Sons for thirty-five years and served as a volunteer firefighter with the Arnprior Fire Department for over 20 years. He was also a lifelong member of the local Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 174. Bert Tourangeau Street is located off Edey Street in the Callahan Estates subdivision.

Born in 1931, Desmond Joseph Trudeau attended St. Joseph’s Separate School and Arnprior District High School. As a youth, he was a member of the Lanark and Renfrew Regiment. Trudeau enlisted with the Royal Canadian Regiment on November 12^th, 1951 and served in the Korean War. He was killed in action on January 12^th, 1953, and he is the only person from Arnprior who is known to have died on Korean soil during this conflict. He was awarded the Korea Medal and the United Nations Service Medal (Korea). In honour of his ultimate sacrifice, Desmond Trudeau Drive is located off Vanjumar Drive in the Village Creek / Olympia subdivision.

Ted Strike will be commemorated with a future local street. Ted Strike has been a fixture of the Town of Arnprior over the course of the last half century. After a high school placement in the engineering department, Ted began working at the Town full-time after marrying Beverly and settling down in 1968. Over his time with the Town, he served as Director of Public Works and Engineering for twenty-four (24) years until his retirement in 1999. Ted then ran for Town Council and served as Councillor for five terms (2000-2003, 2003-2006, 2010-2014, 2014-2018, 2018-2022). Ted retired following the 2022 Municipal Election.