The Norwegian ambassador will visit Cobourg in September, along with family members of the late World War II hero Fern Blodgett Sunde

Image of Vern Blodgett Sunde. Image provided

By: Cecilia Nasmith, Northumberland 89.7 FM News

Cobourg

Cobourg council this week learned of special visitors coming to town in September – the Norwegian ambassador and the daughters and sons-in-law of Fern Blodgett Sunde.

This is the woman that a statue was put up to honour in October 2020, Leona Woods recalled for council, unveiled in the rock garden just east of the Cobourg beach.

Fern was six months old when her family moved to Cobourg, Woods said. She was raised and educated here and, when World War II broke out, she wanted to serve.

Against all the barriers of the time, she became the first female radio operator and the first one to serve deep-sea duty. She made 70 crossings during the Battle of the Atlantic to supply Allied troops. She was recognized by the King of Norway in 1943 for her courage and resilience and became the first woman to receive the Norwegian War Medal.

It was the work of a dedicated committee that resulted in the statue. Fern's daughter, granddaughter and great-grandson visited it in April 2023. And a twin statue was unveiled in May in Farsund, Norway, where she lived until her death in 1991.

Graham Beer told of representing Cobourg at its unveiling, and plans for a September ceremony during the visit of Blodgett's family.

Woods said the visit will include a tour of the town and the sites that were significant for Fern – the ones she always made sure to see whenever she visited over the years.

And at the site of the statue, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 19, a special ceremony will be held.

Woods and Beer were hoping council would be agreeable to waiving the necessity for parking permits in that area between noon and 3 p.m. that day so that members of the public, dignitaries and the Norwegian ambassador will have an easier time attending the ceremony – as high-season parking rules will still be in effect.

“Just so it doesn't create a precedent,” Mayor Lucas Cleveland said.

“We get requests for parking exemptions every day.”

“It's a one-off event – it's not like they are coming to us every year,” Councillor Brian Darling said.

The motion was passed.