On Monday, February 1, 2016, Pelham Council set precedent by naming a key street in the East Fonthill development “Summersides Boulevard,” after Jim Summersides, a World War II veteran of the elite, joint Canadian-American “First Special Service Force.”
“Council is pleased to award this honour to Jim Summersides, a local hero and respected veteran,” said Mayor Dave Augustyn. “We hope that all developers in Pelham will follow suit and name streets in honour of other local veterans.”
Council approved the construction of the new central street linking Downtown Fonthill (by extending Pelham Town Square) to Wellspring Way and Rice Road in the East Fonthill development. The street is set for construction this year and will include a centre boulevard, trees, and 3.6 metre wide sidewalk and bicycle paths on both sides.
“I want to thank you, Mayor Dave, and Town Council for giving me and my family this honour,” said Jim Summersides. “The First Special Services Force was a great bunch of people and I think a lot of the credit has to do with my time and training there.”
About Jim Summersides
Mr. Summersides is a dedicated member of the Royal Canadian Legion (Fonthill Branch 613) and a volunteer public speaker to school children about the travesties of war. He lived in Fonthill for a short time in the 1920s, briefly attending Fonthill Public School, before moving to Welland with his family in the 1930s.
He joined the armed forces at 18 years of age in April 1943, going overseas in December that year. He volunteered to join “First Special Service Force” in the spring of 1944, which was a joint Canadian-American commando unit undertaking some of the most dangerous and difficult missions. They were called the “Black Devils” or “Devil’s Brigade” because they used to blacken their faces and participate in raids behind enemy lines during the night. Their unit was the pre-curser for other elite units including the American Green Berets, Delta Force, and the Navy SEALs, and Canada’s JTF2 military unit.
In 1945, Mr. Summersides returned home to Niagara to work at Martin Dairy, and later joined Atlas Steels in Welland for more than 30 years. He has been married for nearly 70 years to Margaret and they share two children and two grandchildren. The United States Congress awarded Mr. Summersides with a Congressional Gold Medal (2015), which is the highest honour in the United States, and the Town of Pelham awarded him with a Volunteer Peer Award (2011). He holds many other medals and honours.
About the East Fonthill Development
The Town of Pelham considers the East Fonthill Development a strategic priority and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make Pelham a more complete community.
The East Fonthill Development is the largest new urban development in the Town of Pelham. Approved as part of a new Official Plan in 2014, the East Fonthill Secondary Plan provides policies for a comprehensively-planned community that protects environmental features, includes walking and cycling elements, and recognizes and responds to Regional and Provincial policy initiatives.
In 2015, the East Fonthill Secondary Plan & Urban Design Guidelines were recognized with a Niagara Community Design Award in Urban Design and Architecture.
For more information, please contact:
Dave Augustyn, Mayor
(905) 892-2607 ext. 317
Darren Ottaway, Chief Administrative Officer
(905) 892-2607 ext. 318
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