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HB NEWS NEW PARK NAME WILL INSPIRE OTHERS, SAYS MAYOR HERB GARBUTT hgarbutt@metroland.com Halton Hills recognized and paid tribute to portant part of its heritage Saturday (Oct. 2), re-nam- i the park on Dayfoot Drive in honour of Henry town's first Black fire chief, a position he earned after a being a longtime member of the volunteer fire brigade. Shepherd was also a foun- ding member. of the Georg lived in a time when the colour of your on was t the s sole, measure ‘he Shep- herds faced ot Obstacles and barriers I could never begin Shepherd family photo. said Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette. "His accom- plishments will continue to inspire for generations to col Shepherd's grandmoth- er used the underground railroad to escape slavery and come to Canada with said Melissa King, Shep- herd's great granddaugh- her son John Henry (Shep- ter. "The measure of their _ herd's father). She settled in worth is the legacy of Georgetown and worked on strength they carved out for the farm of Colonel John future ge generatic Murray in in Stewarttown the After her portant role he played in death i in 1871, the Murrays the history of Georgetown," _ raised John Henry. Catch a Great Deall Top: Melissa King, the great at the dedicati native Henry Thomas Shepherd, Georgetown's first Black fire chief and a rly veteran. John Henry married Sa- rah Hartley, who worked for the Murrays, in 1886. Henry, the second youngest of their six children, was born Aug. 18, Shepherd worked at the paper mill with his father and joined the Halton Rifles (which became the Lorne Scots). In 1914, he enlisted in the army. “At the time of the First World War, young black Ca- nadians were not always welcomed into the mili tary," King said. Shepherd was one of the few Black servicemen in a non-segregated battalion, serving with the 58th Bat- for, in the location you ant to pay , Popular @iautocatch.. Province, popular Cities or by the right price! talion in France and Bel- ium. He was wounded twice, bu but returned to duty acti freedom Mrs. Shep- herd sought for her son would be the very thing her grandchild would serve to protect," King sai Nee rote in from the war, he stayed active with the Halton Rifles and was promoted to Regimental rgeant Major, becoming the first Black man to earn the title in Canada. Around the Same time, he was ied Georgetown's fire chief. He re-enlisted in the ar- myin 1999, but due to his in- juries from the First World War, he was not eligible for overseas duty. Instead, he trained soldiers at a camp in Newmarket between 1940 and 1944, A Globe and Mail article described how trainees held Shepherd in high re- ard. mere is no colour line my and the rookies take thelr or- ders from Sgt. Mjr. Shep- herd as willingly as they would the Colonel himself. They respect him for his en- i rd and for his ability as a training offi- cer and they like him for his bantering good humour." UOWEH - dl UL | 2 Weoz ‘2 4890100 ‘Aepsunyy | we : Cpl. Darren Kowlessar photos of the park. Left: Georgetown Shepherd was named a Member of the Most Excel- lent Order of the British mpire (MBE). ee the war, Shepherd returned to work at the pap- er and for many years was the parade marshal on Remembrance Day. The park is located about a block from where Shepherd once lived on Chapel Street. "This honour means his name and legacy will carry on," King said. "As children and families vis visit ihe Park, they will 1 great man oand about the same spaces where he raised his family." TED ARNOTT, MPP WELLINGTON-HALTON HILLS As always, weke here to hela Call: 1-800-265-2366 Ha (Yo Me: aLo a Corel olemo) -Molae}