Valerie McGrady was inspired to create Canada’s first Bravery Park after the passing of her son Corporal Matthew McCully Matthew was a member of Canada’s elite Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT), responsible for training the Afghan National forces. On May 25, 2007, while conducting a joint Afghan-Canadian foot patrol near a village west of Kandahar city, Matthew stepped on an improvised explosive device. Valerie’s son died not only trying to protect his country, but training Afghan soldiers to protect their own.
Valerie and her daughter turned their grief into a vision of creating a living testament to the bravery of Canadian soldiers. Together, alongside a small committee, they drove an extensive fundraising campaign and fostered steadfast community support to build Bravery Park. A living and interactive space, Bravery Park promotes both awareness and understanding of the sacrifices and struggles our Canadian Forces undergo to promote peace here at home and worldwide.
On September 3, 2021, Bravery Park was officially opened by the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and included a flyover by the Canadian Snowbirds and an 80-member military parade. View a short video of the opening at Orangeville’s Bravery Park pays tribute to Canadian soldiers.
Schools and community groups regularly visit Bravery Park as it provides a tangible connection to some of our most recent international aid and peace keeping missions. Valerie and Shannon provide guided tours and continue to give presentations about the multifaceted roles of our Canadian Armed Forces.
Military memorials in the park include: A Canadian Soldier in Afghanistan, Memorial Stone, Playground, “Remember Always” Art Installation, Canadian Armed Forces Bench and Lest We Forget Bench.
The Bravery Park™ initiative was created by Peter Prakke, and the Orangeville location would not have been possible without the extreme generosity, kindness and compassion of the Prakke family.
