The Walkerton Water Health Study donated a stone plaque and tree and dedicated it to the residents of Walkerton who were affected by the ecoli water tragedy in 2000.
Doctor Bill Clark — the lead investigator of the study — unveiled the plaque yesterday afternoon at the town’s Heritage Water Garden.
Doctor Clark says they wanted to thank the community for their involvement in the study.
He says their participation played a large part in the study’s success.
Around 30 people gathered at the water garden for the ceremony including Brockton Mayor Charlie Bagnato and members of Council.
Also there was resident Brian Cowan who was living in Walkerton at the time of the water tragedy and fell ill because of the tainted water.
He says people were in a crisis mode back then because they didn’t know if they were going to live or die.
Cowan recalls the air ambulance going over his house several times a day and both he and his wife wondered if someone was being brought in to the hospital because of ecoli.
Cowan was one of thousands who participated in the health study.
He hopes the study will assist other towns who have ecoli outbreaks in helping them recover.
There was also a monument erected at Brucelea Haven for the staff there.
Doctor Clark says an administrator shut off the water line 24 hours before the boil water notice was issued and that prevented even more illnesses and deaths from occurring.
