International Cairn

Royal Thai Embassy built a solid relationship with the Town of Carleton Place. It's rare. It's solid. It's million years old. That's why it's the perfect symbol of a new friendship that is unique, endurable, and lasts indefinitely. Royal Thai Embassy contributes a striking piece of sedimentary rock that came all the way from Thailand to the Town of Carleton Place for their International Cairn restoration project to be unveiled next month. On July 22, Chargé d' Affaires Nantana Sivakua presented the rock to Councillor Gary Strike of Carleton Place at the Royal Thai Embassy in Ottawa. The stone-aged gift will be placed in St. James Park across from the beautiful historic Town Hall where the Cairn is located. Since the current cairn is falling apart at the base and repairs to the structure are needed, Councillor Strike pitched an idea to the council meeting to collect additional rocks from several embassies as well as the town's residences. The new collections will be an addition to the original stones from 16 countries such as Germany, China, Russia, and South Africa. The rock that the Royal Thai Embassy selected for Carleton Place came from the famous Rare Stone Museum in Pathum Thani Province (www.tourismthailand.org/See-and-Do/Sights-and-Attractions-Detail/Rare-Stone-Museum--2294).


Fast Fact: Sedimentary Rock from Thailand Rock name: Laminated limestone Composition: Calcite Laminae Origin: Central Thailand Age: Approximately 200 million years old The official unveiling ceremony will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2014, at 1:30 pm at St. James Park at Bell Street in Carleton Place. Everyone is welcome to join us for an afternoon of sunshine in the scenic park overlooking the Mississippi river. There are three large flag poles with the UN Flag, the Canadian flag, and the Ontario flag on the site. If you are not able to make it to the ceremony, please visit this lovely Town when you have a chance, and don't forget to stop by to have a look at our rock. It has quite an unusual shape as well as fascinating layers so it will surely stand out. Amidst the turmoil in the world where conflict is louder than peace, the rocks from different countries that will be cemented to the Cairn as part of the restoration plan signify a strong message and reveal a beautiful side of the world where the international brotherhood is celebrated and, from that, the new friendship between Thailand and the Town of Carleton Place is built firmly on the stone. 

Reported by Suranchana Pattamakowit July 23, 2014

 

The Monument of Friendship is Officay Unveiled in Carleton Place

Amidst the pouring rain and the below-normal summer temperature, representatives from countries in other parts of the world found themselves side by side with Carleton Place’s community members, all gathering to celebrate “goodwill, peace, cooperation, and unity.”

Wendy LeBlanc, Mayor of Carleton Place, Councillor Gary Strike along with the Town’s community gave a warm welcome to all the guests at the official unveiling ceremony of the International Cairn took place at St. James Park in Carleton Place on Saturday, 16 August 2014.

Among the 12 countries that had contributed the rocks to the Town’s restoration of the International Cairn project are such as Azerbaijan, Armenia, Latvia, the Philippines, and Thailand which was represented by Chargé d' Affaires Nantana Sivakua and Minister Counsellor Narong Boonsatheanwong who joined in the ceremony that emphasized the importance of the international brotherhood of the world.

The Mayor, Father David Andrew, a priest at St James Anglican Church, and the Councillor all delivered inspiring messages with a united theme that glorified the collaboration of people from different backgrounds. It’s the combination of differences that makes the Cairn much more unique and the world much more beautiful.

 
The Town’s musical band played "O Canada" to salute the raising of the Canadian flag which was raised by Councillor Gary Strike and his nephew. It was followed by the UN flag, raised by a retired UN peacekeeper, Jake Gallipeau, and accompanied by “It’s a Small World”. Lastly, Clerk Duncan Rogers and his son Braden had the honor to raise the Carleton Place flag accompanied by “Military Escort”. 

After everyone had a chance to see the Cairn up close, there was one nice surprise taking place with the Mississippi river in the background. The pigeons were released into the sky symbolizing peace and liberation which was so well connected with the message of the whole ceremony.

Chargé Nantana took the opportunity to thank Mayor LeBlanc and Councillor Strike for their thoughtful invitation to include a rock from Thailand in the historic cairn and said that “governments come and go, diplomats also come and go, but the rock stays forever. So I hope the rock will serve as a symbol for everlasting friendship from the people of Thailand to the people of Carleton Place”.

At the end of the ceremony, the Mayor bid farewell and said that the next time we come, the Town will welcome us with the sunshine. But we may not need the sunshine when the hospitality and the friendliness of the community have already guaranteed us that our hearts will always be warmed in Carleton Place.

With this being said, whether rain or shine, it’s always a good time to go visit Carleton Place especially when this unique International Cairn is officially revealed to the public.

Please be sure to take a look at the rock from Thailand which is approximately 200 million years old and exclusively selected from the well-known Rare Stone Museum in Pathum Thani Province. It’s now permanently displayed with all the other rocks collected from several countries that have different historic backgrounds.

It’s a true testament that a small community, when comes together, can create a significant piece of the monument.


Reported by Suranchana Pattamakowit, 18 August 2014
 

 

Newspaper Clippings from the Grand Opening of Market Square