Every year we check in with the various Legions in the area (and this year with the Naval Club of Toronto) to find out what they are doing to commemorate Remembrance Day. The list below will give you a good idea of their plans, and considering that many of the parades are taking place on Sunday, Nov. 6, there should be no excuse for not attending. As John Deech, of Branch 73 said, “There are not too many of us left.” We should honour them while they are still with us. Lest we forget!
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Branch 1/42 Baron Byng, 243 Coxwell (416-465-0120), will lead the annual Remembrance day Parade from Corpus Christi Church, along Queen Street to the Cenotaph in Kew Gardens where a ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, weather permitting. The public is invited back to the branch following for a reception.
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Tom, the past president of Branch 11 on Dawes Road (416-699-1353) told me that the branch is holding its regular Sunday afternoon parade Nov. 6, from Shoppers World Danforth back to the Legion branch with a public reception to follow. The branch itself will be open Nov. 11, but special ceremonies for that day are not planned.
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Branch 22, Woodbine Heights, 1240 Woodbine Ave. (416-425-1714), will be part of the East York Remembrance Day Parade, Nov. 11, which begins in the parking lot of East York Collegiate and marches along Coxwell to the Cenotaph in front of the East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell. There will be an 11 o’clock service, with a reception at the branch following.
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Branch 13 Scarborough, 1577 Kingston Rd. (416-691-2015) will hold a Remembrance Day ceremony at the Cenotaph at Kingston Road and Danforth on Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. Then the members go back to the branch where another small ceremony will take place followed by a reception. The public is always welcome.
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Branch 73 Oakridge, 2 Robinson Ave. (416-691-4763), will be participating in the annual Scarborough Civic Centre Parade and Ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 6. John Deech of Branch 73 said that every branch in the zone is represented at this event. Then the members return to Branch 73 for a short ceremony there. On Nov. 11, the members will be at the Cenotaph at Kingston Road and Danforth to celebrate with Branch 13 at 11 a.m. There will also be a reception following at the branch, and the public is welcome.
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The Naval Club of Toronto, 1910 Gerrard St. E., just west of Woodbine (416-924-2811), will be taking part in the Remembrance Day ceremonies downtown. The members will muster at City Hall and march to the Cenotaph. The TSCAA colour guard will be on hand along with the Naval Officers Association (Toronto Branch), the Royal Naval Association, the Wren Association and the Toronto Sea Cadet Alumni Association. Then they will return to the branch for a local ceremony beginning at 2:30 p.m. with music and refreshments to follow.
This year music will be supplied by local entertainers Martin Gladstone and Frank Caruso who will perform favourite songs from the 1940s and up – “everything from Irving Berlin to the Beatles.” Their show gets underway at 4 p.m.
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