Montreal marks 71st anniversary of Cap St-Jacques tragedy that claimed 12 children
Posted July 13, 2025 5:00 pm.
Last Updated July 14, 2025 9:23 am.
On July 13, 1954, what began as a joyful summer outing turned into one of the darkest days in Canadian boating history.
Twelve children — Denzil Alleyne, Margo and Marilyn Fonseca, Brenda Kelly, Carol and Alan Leek, Paula Millington, Leon Nealey, Edwin and Diane Springer, and Doreen and Estelle Walton — drowned during a trip near Île-Bizard. They were all part of a day camp organized by the Negro Community Centre in Little Burgundy. The tragedy devastated families and left a lasting scar on Montreal’s Black community.
A bench facing the water, engraved with names
On Saturday, families, officials, and community members gathered at Bois-de-l’Île-Bizard Nature Park for a memorial near the site of the tragedy. A bench was unveiled facing the water — a permanent space for quiet reflection, inscribed with the names of the 12 children. It was donated by Rideau Memorial Funeral Gardens.
“My community has come together for me and the families. And Joan Lee from WIBCA, Alison Saunders — I want to thank also Park X Extension and a great big thank you to Rideau Memorial Funeral Gardens in Dollard for giving us and erecting the seat that will be there permanently with the children’s names on it,” said Gail Millington Grant, whose six-year-old sister Paula was among the victims.
During the ceremony, Speaker of the House of Commons Francis Scarpaleggia presented the King Charles III Medal to David Tagieff, in recognition of his courageous actions on the day of the accident.
A community gathers again at Union United Church
In addition to Saturday’s ceremony, a memorial service was held Sunday morning at Union United Church — the same church that held most of the children’s funerals in 1954.
Grant reflected on the deep role the church played in their lives. “This was our church. This was our psychiatrist. This was our Lord and Savior,” she said. “There was nothing else. Pretty much after that, in order for the parents to kind of… their way of grieving, their way of mourning, was really not to speak about it. It was too devastating.”
She also spoke of honouring the memory of the children. “We were honouring the 12 little angels, as you see behind us here, who went to be with our Lord and Savior on July 13, 1954,” she said. “They went on a beautiful day, 62 of them, and unfortunately, 12 did not come back.”
Grant recalled how the community turned inward after the tragedy. “Reverend Este took care of us… the church was our solace.”
“And as you can tell by the last names, more than one [child] perished that day — as a family: sisters and brothers, cousins, two sisters. It was devastating.”
Lighting 12 candles, speaking 12 names
At the service, 12 candles were lit — one for each child — in a deeply emotional tribute called Say Their Names.
“The theme of our service today is speak their names, say their names, light the 12 candles, remember them, reflection, and that the church and God will help us,” said Grant. “It’s 71 years, and we’re still healing.”
She said the 50th anniversary, in 2004, marked a turning point. “That was a healing service because that was really the first time we’d ever had a service for them.”
Water safety is part of the message
Grant emphasized that remembrance must also include education about water safety and drowning prevention.
“It’s not only to know how to swim, which is the first, but to teach our children the safety, the respect, and how things — the danger — how things can change in an instant,” she said.
“Even though you know how to swim, you need to always be with someone. You need to be cognizant of the water. And like I said, in the pool, you need to always be with someone. So it’s not only swimming, it’s safety,” she added.
Grant pointed to recent drownings in Montreal — including at Cap St-Jacques this summer, in Verdun, and on the South Shore — as reminders of the ongoing risks. “It’s still going on. And for those ones, they’re not realizing the danger of the water.”
A call for recognition and remembrance
Grant said awareness of the tragedy remains limited, even within the local community. However, she’s encouraged by the growing support and interest in ensuring the event is not forgotten.
“More and more of the community at large, the government, the powers that be, they’re learning of us. Francis Scarpaleggia, the Speaker of the House — there are different ones who are spreading our message, and that’s what we want. We want it known. We want them remembered, not only Quebec, Montreal here, Quebec, but across Canada.”
