Veterans in Sydney are calling for cooler heads in the heated controversy over the relocation of the community’s Remembrance Day service, bumped out of Centre 200 by a craft fair.
While there's more finger pointing over how and why the ceremony was relocated, legion members say threats against the crafters have gone too far.
Former Whitney Pier legion president Michael MacKinnon sent a request on March 3 asking for Centre 200 on Remembrance Day.
Mayor Cecil Clark wrote back 17 days later, confirming the CBRM would happily host Legion Branch 128 at the venue on Nov. 11.
“The ball wasn't dropped at the legion. We had approval for the venue and then we lost it,” says Legion Branch 128 president Stephen MacLennan.
Two weeks ago, on Oct. 20, MacLennan received another email from the Mayor’s office saying the venue had to be changed because of a conflict.
The president of the Ashby Legion in Sydney blames the CBRM for the mix-up.
“The miscommunication that took place did not take place between the legions. It took place between Centre 200 and the Mayor's office,” says Ashby Legion president John MacInnis.
The controversy has brought outrage from the community, some people taking their anger out on the Cape Breton home crafters, but MacInnis and MacLennan say the crafters are not to blame.
“As far as boycotting the craft show, we are against that. Making death threats against the crafters, we are against that. This is not what we wanted,” says MacLennan.
MacInnis says he's hoping something can change for next year, when his legion celebrates its 150th anniversary. For now, he says veterans fought for peace and that's what they want.
“The veterans went to war to fight for freedom and that's what we got. That gives everyone the freedom to do what they want. As long as it's legal,” says MacLennan.
The mayor's office responded late Thursday, admitting there was a communication breakdown over the last year.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kyle Moore
