Family members of Albert E. Gosselin remove the veil from a plaque now at a park named after him on Erickson Crescent. (Susan McNeil/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

Veterans recognized

Albert E. Gosselin Park unveiled on Erickson Crescent

Sep 10, 2023 | 4:36 PM

There is no shortage of coincidences on Prince Albert’s Erickson Cresent, including that veteran Albert Gosselin’s marker was unveiled by his daughter, Beverly Erickson along with other family members.

“It was quite an honour for Dad’s name to be put forth, I know they had a long list to choose from. We were very humbled to have a park named after our dad,” said Erickson.

The City of Prince Albert has been re-naming parks after multiple veterans and several well-known politicians all summer.

Albert Gosselin Park’s turn was Sunday, with a large representation from Gosselin’s family in attendance.

Many members of Gosselin’s family are still in the Prince Albert to Meath Park area. (Susan McNeil/paNOW)

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Gosselin grew up near the Spruce Home/Albertville area and some of his offspring still live there, or in Meath Park, Paddockwood and of course Prince Albert.

“It just so happens that my husband’s father, Orville Erickson, the crescent that it’s one was named after him. That’s kind of full-circle event,” she explained.

The names of the veterans came from the Royal Canadian Legion, the Army and Navy Veterans and citizens in general, with city council narrowing down the choices.

According to a biography read out by a family member at the unveiling, Gosselin voluntarily enlisted on Nov. 26, 1942.

He was assigned to the 2^nd Brigade, the Black Watch Canada where he served until his honourable discharge on November 14, 1945.

Black Watch has a history of having never retreated in the history of their unit.

Gosselin was proud of never having fired a gun during his 18 months on the front lines.

Instead, he worked with demolitions and cleared mine fields to allow troops to advance, based on his pre-war history of blasting while hard rock mining.

He received a back injury that never fully healed when a mortar hit the truck he and his crew had been in that contained 3,000 pounds of explosives. The crew was nearby in a house eating lunch. The house collapsed in the resulting explosion.

Gosselin returned to the battlefield however and gained the rank of Lance Corporal with carpenter tradesman distinction. He was given the 1939-1945 Bronze Star, the Italy Star, the France and Germany Star, the Voluntary Service Medal and the King George VI Medal.

After moving back to Prince Albert, he took up carpentry as a trade.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com