Edgett Excavating owner Ross Edgett and other volunteers have donated time and services to create additional parking for interment services at St. Andrew’s Cemetery in Courtenay.
Edgett co-ordinated work efforts to widen the shoulder on McQuillan Road, re-establish survey bars, install a catchbasin for drainage, and to protect Garry Oak trees by hand-grubbing blackberry brambles.
The combined value of the donated work is estimated at $24,000.
“The church and the community is grateful for the work they’ve done, entirely at their cost,” said St. Andrew’s member Kathy Coulthart-Dewey.
Often referred to as the Mother Church, St. Andrews is one of the original churches on Vancouver Island. The cemetery is the site of many war graves, and settler graves. A number of military and RCMP families regularly visit loved ones.
St. Andrew’s is also one of the most northerly recognized Garry Oak meadows, with 15-20 protected trees and an abundance of wildflowers in spring.
In honour of our veterans, Saturday, Nov. 9 is the annual Cemetery Clean-Up day. The public is encouraged to drop by from 9 a.m. to noon to help out. Bring leaf gathering equipment if you have it. Refreshments will be provided.
Cadets have been a big part of the day in past years.
This is the second year of celebrating Nov. 11 through a 101 Ringing of the Bell and Candlelight service at the church.
The cemetery is located behind St. Andrew’s Church, at the corner of Dingwall Road and North Island Highway.