Clementina Trenholme

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Clementina Trenholme, born: 1844 at Trenholme, Canada East. died: 14 September 1918 at Hamilton, Ontario. (Clementina Fessenden Trenholme), author, social organizer. Also, mother of Reginald Fessenden, the radio pioneer. Buried in St. John's Anglican Cemetery, Ancaster, Ontario. ^[1]

Educated in Montreal schools, she grew up in a home where loyalism and devotion to British traditions was strong. At twenty one she married Reverend Joseph Elisha Fessenden, a Canadian-born Church of England clergyman. Family moved to Fergus, Ontario and later to Chippeaw, on the banks of the Niagara River. There, she honed her writing skills as one of the first editors of the Niagara W.A. Leaflet. 1893 accepted position of rector at St. John's Anglican Church in Ancaster, Ontario. Always trying to find ways to strengthen Canada's links to the British Empire. Identified herself both physically and spiritually with Queen Victoria. She dressed in black like the widowed Queen after her own husband passed away in 1896. She was responsible for introducing Empire Day in Canadian schools, first in Dundas, Ontario in 1898 on the last school day before May 24, Queen Victoria's birthday. It was then celebrated more each year and then instituted in England in 1904 by Lord Meath. A typical Empire Day in Hamilton schools occupied the entire day and included inspirational speeches by trustees and songs such as The Maple Leaf and Just Before the Battle.

A bronze plaque was installed in her memory on the wall of St. John's Anglican Church.

[edit] Tribute

Had two neighbourhoods named after her, Fessenden and Trenholme, both on the Hamilton, Ontario Mountain.

The first neighbourhood, Fessenden, on the West Mountain is bounded by Upper Paradise Road (east), Mohawk Road West (north) and (west), this Road for the most part runs on a West-East route on the Hamilton Mountain but on the western end where this neighbourhood is situated the Road turns South and flows overtop of the Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway, the southern boundary of this neighbourhood. Landmarks in this neighbourhood include Sir Allan McNab High School and Regina Mundi Church.

The second neighbourhood, Trenholme, on the East Mountain is bounded by Limeridge Road East (north), Pritchard Road (east), the Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway (south) and Upper Ottawa Street (west). Landmarks in this neighbourhood include Albion Falls Park and Trenholme Park, also named after her.