8 Wing/CFB Trenton Base Commander Colonel Colin Keiver (L) requests Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison (R) grant the military access to the City during a Freedom of the City ceremony at City Hall on Friday June 17, 2016. Quinte West Fire Chief John Whalen is pictured to Harrison’s right. (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
8 Wing/CFB Trenton couldn’t have picked a more gorgeous day to mark its 85th anniversary.
Over 200 members of 8 wing CFB Trenton marched through downtown Trenton to City Hall exercising Freedom of the City – celebrating a tradition of military units dating back to 15th century England.
(Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
Once on City Hall’s door step, Base Commander Colonel Colin Keiver banged the hilt of his sword against a circular wooden plate attached to the door and waited for Mayor Jim Harrison to answer, permitting access to the City.
Base Commander Colonel Colin Keiver.
During the War of the Roses, cities were constantly endangered by military units from one side or the other so cities had walls and gates which barred entrance. Before a city would admit a military unit inside its walls, the Chief Constable would demand to know the reason the soldiers wished to enter the city, and then he would escort their commander to the chambers of the city council.
(Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison says it made his heart throb when Colonel Colin Keiver banged the hilt of his sword against a circular wooden plate attached to the door and waited for him to answer permitting access to the City.
Colonel Keiver says the wooden plate was made from a tree cut down during the Highway 2 reconstruction and will be displayed at City Hall.
Following the ceremony everyone gathered at Royal Canadian Legion Trenton Branch 110 where Colonel Keiver and Mayor Harrison signed a ceremonial certificate.
Celebration following Freedom of the City exercise and signing of ceremonial certificate. Front Row L-R: Quinte West councillor Sally Freeman, Mayor Jim Harrison, Colonel Colin Keiver, councillor Duncan Armstrong. Back Row L-R: councillor David McCue, deputy mayor Jim Alyea. (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
