‘BETHUNES OF OUR TIME’ CARRY ON ‘SPIRIT’ OF GREAT DOCTOR’S ‘INSPIRING’ LIFE STORY TOLD FOR 50 YEARS AT HIS BIRTHPLACE
PHOTOS, STORY Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
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GRAVENHURST — Norman Bethune’s heritage home has outlived him — but not his legacy.
The great doctor was 49 when he died on a Chinese battlefield.
Saturday the “Birthplace of a Hero” turned 50.
With a befitting celebration to “honour his memory,” attended by Chinese Consul General, Toronto, Luo Weidong, and 100 guests, friends and business people, the National Historic Site marked half a century of sharing the famed Canadian’s amazing life story with more than 614,000 visitors to Bethune Memorial House since 1976 when the Canadian government bought and renovated the former United Church manse in Gravenhurst.
An average of 12,400 Canadians and Chinese per year, site manager and co-host Scott Davidson said addressing the crowd in a yellow and white striped tent.
“That’s impressive,” said Davidson who has worked at the Parks Canada site since 1994.
The event was jointly hosted by the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Toronto and Bethune Memorial House.
“If you go back 136 years, five months and three weeks, that takes us to March of 1890,” said Davidson. “That’s when Henry Norman Bethune was born on the second floor bedroom of the house behind me to Elizabeth and Rev. Matthew Bethune the Presbyterian minister.”
Bethune’s is an amazing life story — and almost never got told locally — that stretches from March 4, 1890, in Gravenhurst to Nov. 12, 1939, when he died while operating and teaching the People’s Republic of China army in the mountainous region of Huangshikou, Hebei Province, before he succumbed to blood poisoning in the Sino-Japanese war.
To the assembled “Bai Qiu’en Dàifu” is legendary.
In his congratulatory remarks, Weidong told those from the Canadian and Chinese medical fields and friends that “Bethune gave his life in China, where generation after generation of ‘Bethunes of our time’ continue to put his spirit into action.
“All of you, carrying forward the spirit of Dr. Bethune in your own different ways, are ‘Bethunes of our time’ in truest sense.”
He expressed “our sincere appreciation to the three levels of government in Canada for their longstanding support.”
From his prepared remarks, Weidong added: “For many years, Dr. Bethune has served as an important bridge between China and Canada. His legacy has become an enduring theme of friendship between our two countries, as well as a shared spiritual wealth and emotional bond between our peoples.
“More than 80 years ago, he left behind a life of comfort and travelled thousands of miles to China. In the end he gave his life to the Chinese people’s cause of revolution. His inspiring deeds, noble character, and spirit of internationalism and humanitarianism featuring utter devotion to others without any thought of self, remain forever etched in the hearts of the Chinese people.
“Though more than 80 years have passed, Dr. Bethune’s spirit still lives on.”
And “over the past half century, Bethune Memorial House has remained committed to sharing Dr. Bethune’s story with the public, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors from China and Canada to learn about his life and honour his memory; generations of scholars have devoted themselves to uncovering historical records and bringing to life a fuller and more vivid portrait of Dr. Bethune.
“Organizations such as the Bethune Medical Development Association of Canada have for many years organized medical teams to provide free medical services in China and promote medical exchanges and cooperation between our two countries; and people of vision from all walks of life across our consular district have taken up the baton of China-Canada friendship, carrying forward this legacy with unwavering commitment and working tirelessly to advance and strengthen relations between our two countries. ….
“Those who share the same purpose are not kept apart by mountains or seas.
“We uphold his compassion for people and his concern for their well-being, and remain committed to putting people first and making the improvement of people’s lives the starting point and ultimate goal of our work, striving to ensure that people can live better lives.
“Finally, I sincerely wish this celebration success. Let us carry forward the spirit of Dr. Bethune, strengthen the bonds of friendship between China and Canada, and look forward to seeing many more “Bethunes of our time” putting that spirit into action.”
Former Canadian senator Victor Oh (2014-2024), who was born in Singapore, said the occasion “comes at the right time. As a friend of China we will all remember him.”
He said “I was very honoured to have travelled to Tang County, Hebei Province, with former mayor Hazel McCallion, and it was something to remember for life. How a person could sacrifice his life for another country for friendship and also the cooperation of Canada and China relations.”
“I was very honoured to have travelled to Hebei Province with former mayor Hazel McCallion, and it was something to remember for life. How a person could sacrifice his life for another country for friendship and also the cooperation of Canada and China relations.”
He said he was last in Gravenhurst in 2012 at the opening of the new interpretive centre.
The ceremony also included the screening of “Modern Bethune in Action,” a documentary highlighting Bethune’s beginnings, his Canadian war experience as a stretcher bearer and medical work in Spanish Civil War and in China.
Jewel Cunningham, senior VP of operations for Parks Canada called the day a chance to “commemorate this important milestone.
“An opportunity to reflect on 50 years of preserving and sharing the story of Dr. Norman Bethune.
“A Canadian whose compassion, innovation, dedication, to improving the lives of others, continues to inspire the world today.”
Bethune, she said, was 49 when he died treating the wounded in war halfway around the world from here. Today, 50 years later — longer than Bethune was alive — this place has welcomed visitors to learn about his life and his experiences.”
It also marks the 40th anniversary of the partnership between Bethune Memorial House and Bethune Memorial Hall in Hebei” where story is shared in China.
Saturday Davidson and Zhang Ning signed letters of intent to renew that partnership when they signed another cultural exchange and collaboration agreement.
Following the ceremonies Weidong laid a wreath at a statue in front of the interpretive centre next to Bethune Memorial House.
See a MuskokaTODAY.com interview with him later.
And for more photos, see slide show below and click on photo to enlarge and read cutlines.
Sunday there was a reunion of about a dozen past house guides. More on that later.
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