Open-air memorial unveiled at historic West Nottawasaga church site

A brand new memorial was unveiled at West Nottawasaga Presbyterian Cemetery over the weekend honoring nearly 200 years of history.

A new open-air church memorial was unveiled over the weekend at West Nottawasaga Presbyterian Cemetery, honouring nearly 200 years of history.

The memorial stands on the same site where churches were once built in 1853, 1865 and 1948.

“This is what it’s all about... the community coming together,” said memorial designer Jim Campbell, fighting back emotion as he addressed the crowd Sunday afternoon at the podium. “I’ll start crying, but that’s normal.”

Campbell said the vision was to create something that would last generations without the upkeep of a traditional enclosed building.

“There’s no need for a new church. My objective was to design something good for another 150 years. It’s essentially an open-air church.”

Committee chair Rae Hockley noted the project has been more than two years in the making. “We’ve been meeting all year long. As soon as the weather opened up in May, we started working again. We had some of it done last year, including planting all the trees.”

Campbell added the memorial reflects the same spirit that the site carried for nearly two centuries. “Really, it’s about the community coming together as it has for the last 175 years in this place of gathering.”

The project was made possible through donations and community support and will serve as a lasting tribute to the West Church legacy.

The memorial stands at 7993 County Road 33 in Nottawa.