Southside Park's Indoor Pavilion Honours Late Commander David Stock

Saturday, 22 June 2019 06:37

Gloria and David Stock (Photo Credit: Gloria Stock)

The Indoor Pavilion of Southside Park will be renamed the Commander David Stock Pavilion after receiving a unanimous vote from Woodstock City council. An announcement will be made later this year.

WOODSTOCK - Southside Park's Indoor Pavilion will now be called the Commander David Stock Pavilion.

Woodstock City council approved the motion, giving a unanimous vote.

Mayor Trevor Birtch says the facility will carry on the legacy of the late Commander David Stock.

"Many people will remember for his farm north of the city towards Tavistock, others will remember him for his time as a lawyer here in the Friendly City and the practice that he held. But what's near and dear and why this naming takes place is all of the help that he's given to the Navy League of Canada, including the Navy Cadets and Sea Cadets, and in fact in the last month we've had our annual inspections at the ship in Southside Park. And that ship that they have been using Commander Stock frequented that facility many times to congratulate the young people and encourage them for the future, and nothing could be more fitting. And tonight it was unanimously approved by Woodstock City council that the ship at Southside Park will be renamed the Commander David Stock Pavilion. And those that remember all of his service will be happy and those that come through the doors in the future, they will learn about what it takes to leave a lasting impression, what type of individual you need to become in order to encourage others and to help build a community and build values that'll transcend generations."

Mayor Birtch says the facility will be mainly used for the Navy League Cadet program, running from September to June.

He says the program will be held there for children, ages 8 to 18.

"The first group is aged 8 to 12 and that is the Navy League Cadets and then from 12 to 18 is the Sea Cadets and many of these young people, they learn skills. They learn first aid, they get to play in a band, they get to go sailing. Many of them have opportunity to go way to camps where they actually serve on Canadian naval vessels and get paid as an intern during the summer."

Mayor Birtch adds these programs continue to run through the donations made through people like Commander Stock.

An announcement will be made later this year.