Cobourg residents, Jake and Betty Molenaar received a surprise gift from their neighbour on Friday, June 18, 2019.
The Molenaar’s who live along the lakeshore received a Canadian flag from Jan Spragge who lives a block away along the shoreline.
Approximately two weeks ago the flag pole with the Canadian flag on it was lost to the waves of Lake Ontario because of the rising waters.
Spragge has been looking for any sign of the flag and pole along the lakeshore on her paddleboard but has given up hope of finding it.
All that remains is the base and bottom part of the pole in the water a metre or two from the shore.
On Friday morning Spragge made a presentation of a new Canadian flag to the couple at their residence in the hopes of having it displayed somehow for Canada Day.
“It’s been really difficult,” Spragge said referring to the high water.
“Not only manning pumps on my own and figuring all that out, but watching my neighbours go through a lot of destruction and losing land.”
Spragge said the high water has a “domino effect” because without boaters, local tourism suffers and businesses lose money.
The flag represents so much to Spragge and others who live along the lakeshore.
“For year’s I’ve looked out my window and I could always see the flag.”
“And when I was out sailing, the sailors could always use the flag as a point of reference, so even when I’m out on my paddleboard I would always know how windy it was.”
“When the flag came down it was really heartbreaking and very indicative and symbolic of what’s happening in this area and the destruction.”
Realizing the flag and pole will likely never be found, Spragge thought of the spirit of what the flag means.
“This was just symbolic for me and important on a personal level that putting a flag up again means, we’re Cobourg and we’re united.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
