Special memorial Saturday for heroes and heroines in South Bay Cemetery

County performer and folklorist Suzanne Pasternak will honour heroes and heroines buried at South Bay in a special program Saturday in the old one-room schoolhouse, next to South Bay Church.

The special program, part of the Nature Matters series, begins at 1 p.m.

Suzanne Pasternak

Pasternak has spent 35 years researching and documenting the marine heritage of Prince Edward County in the 1700 and 1800 and 1900s. She has woven these dramatic tales into a rich body of work which includes folk operas, music theatre, documentary, books for young adults’, songs and stories.

“The number of bona fide heroines and heroes that are laid to rest in South Bay Cemetery is breath taking,” said Pasternak. “These first responders who lived on Long Point and South Bay were the commercial fishermen, sailors and captains of the barley schooners that plied our waters.

“These waters are called ‘the graveyard of the Great Lakes’ because of their hidden shoals and sudden, wild winds that cause so many shipwrecks.

Pasternak’s performance will focus on stories from the Point Traverse Life Saving Station as well as the Dulmage family, Minerva McCrimmon, Jackson Bongard, the Spafford family and Captain Solomon Mouck. Several of the descendents of the families will be attending the performance.

Deanne Dulmage and Anne Van Vlack are two who will attend.

“Anne’s relative, Jackson Bongard, received the first medal for bravery at sea ever given in Canada and Deanna Dulmage’s lineage includes Moses Dulmage and David and Philip Dulmage who were the rescuers in the tragic Ocean Wave disaster.

“Performing the stories and songs about these heroic folks then going over to South Bay Cemetery and laying flowers on their graves will be quite moving to say the least!”

The show is Saturday, May 26, at 1 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults.