As many of us know, Fort Henry opened as a museum and historic site on August 1, 1938. A crowd of more than 5,000 people gathered to see Prime Minster William Lyon Mackenzie King review the first Fort Henry Guard, followed by a keynote address. Mackenzie King was deeply moved by the visit, and he later wrote, “The visit to Fort Henry itself was of exceptional interest. Indeed I shall recall it always as one of the greatest and most significant events of my life”.
The Prime Minister’s speech was carried live across the country on CBC Radio. Thanks to extensive research and outreach by Club Archivist Daniel Rose, CBC’s licensing division authorized Library and Archives Canada to make the recording available. It’s a wonderful speech, and stands as one of the most notable moments in the Guard’s 80+ year history.