The group gathered in Smiths Falls to honour Dr. Avision's legacy with a permanent tribute
A crisp, sunny autumn afternoon in Smiths Falls became the setting for an international celebration Saturday, as a man whose work transformed healthcare in South Korea was honoured in the community where his remarkable journey began.
Family descendants, Korean diplomats, business representatives and local dignitaries gathered at Hillcrest Cemetery October 17 for the dedication of a monument honouring Dr. Oliver R. Avison, widely regarded as the father of modern Korean medicine.
Avison was born in England in 1860 but spent part of his early life in the Smiths Falls area, teaching school and studying pharmacy before pursuing medicine in Toronto.
His great-granddaughter Nancy Black travelled from Moncton, New Brunswick, to help lead Saturday’s ceremony.
For Black, the occasion brought new appreciation for a family history that wasn’t always widely discussed.
Avison and his wife Margaret “Jennie” Barnes travelled to Korea with their family in 1893, beginning more than four decades of service.
He helped establish Severance Hospital and Severance Union Medical College, training Korean doctors and helping build the foundations of modern medical education in the country.
Minyoung Han, minister at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Ottawa, attended Saturday’s ceremony and said Avison’s contributions remain deeply appreciated by the Korean people.
Avison also helped establish Chosun Christian College. That institution and Severance Union Medical College later came together to form Yonsei University in 1957, creating an educational legacy that continues today.
Glen Copeland, CEO of Hanwha Canada, said his own introduction to Avison’s story came through a conversation with his South Korean employer.
Copeland said he was inspired to learn more about Avison and discovered just how widely respected the former Smiths Falls area resident remains throughout South Korea.
The monument was sponsored by Hanwha Ocean, a South Korean company, as a permanent tribute to Avison’s accomplishments and the historical ties between Canada and Korea.
Copeland said those ties continue to grow more than 130 years after Avison first arrived in Korea.
Saturday’s ceremony included a blessing from Rev. Takouhi Demirdjian-Petro of Trinity United Church, floral tributes and reflections from family members, Korean representatives and local dignitaries.
One particularly meaningful part of the ceremony featured Iris Black performing on a violin that once belonged to Avison. The instrument was used for two musical offerings, including the traditional Korean song Arirang, which closed the dedication.
While Avison’s accomplishments are well known in Korea, his connections to the Smiths Falls area have been less widely recognized.
Saturday’s dedication brings that history into the spotlight, offering residents a chance to discover how someone with roots in their community helped shape healthcare and education on the other side of the world.
For Korean Embassy Minister Minyoung Han, ensuring that story continues to be shared is an important part of honouring Avison’s life.
The polished stone monument now stands as a permanent reminder of Avison’s contributions, carrying the words “Physician, Teacher, Missionary, Friend of Korea.”
More than 130 years after he left Canada for Korea, his story has come full circle, with a lasting tribute in Smiths Falls to a man whose influence reached across the world.
