Beach Memories: So many reasons why Remembrance Day is important

By GENE DOMAGALA

We should remember Remembrance Day in the Beach for the following reasons:

For the thousands of men and women who joined our great Canadian Army and gave their lives for their country, and the millions who served with distinction.

From the Beach, there were many from some of our great athletic institutions including the Balmy Beach Club (one of the great athletic and recreation clubs in Ontario if not Canada) that came in the hundreds if not thousands to join our armed forces. Many won medals and honours too numerous to mention.

We should also remember the important work and many members of the Royal Canadian Legion across the country and locally.

The Legion started in the Beach as the Great War Veterans Association shortly after the First World War. The hall was located on the west side of Lee Avenue just north of Queen Street East.

Later, the Great War Veterans became the Royal Canadian Legion. The hall later moved to Kingston Road and Woodbine Avenue, and then later that became the Royal Canadian Legion Baron Byng Beaches Branch 1/42 on Coxwell Avenue, where they remain to this day.

There are many organizations and other individuals who should be noted, and I will mention some that I remember personally.

One of our best known sports personalities, and a legend in the Beach, was Ted Reeve.

Many will know him now because of the Ted Reeve Arena and the local hockey association that was named after him in 1954. Reeve, who was born in 1902, joined the Royal Canadian Artillery in the Second World War even though he was past military age for most people. He served with the 30th Battery, organized by then Toronto Maple Leafs owner Conn Smythe in what was called the Sportsman’s Battery.

One of the great movie directors of all time, Norman Jewison who was born on Lee Avenue and grew up in the Beach, served in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. I had the pleasure of speaking to him many years later when we had Norman Jewison Day in the Beach. He told me about joining the navy and his many harrowing experiences.

Another Beach sports figure who served his country was William Houston, who was the last general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs professional baseball club that played in the International League. He served in the military, lived on Lee Avenue and was a personal friend of mine.

All of our religious institutions sent their young people to join the Canadian Armed Forces and they served with distinction.

One of those was Canon Baynes Reed of St. John’s Norway Anglican Church. He had the honour of representing Toronto to the King and Queen in London.

Also please remember our police and firefighters who signed up for the military and displayed great courage.

Remember also the war correspondents who represented our media, especially the newspapers. Some of them paid with their lives for their news coverage.

Also remember a mother on Queen Street East who ran a boarding house at which 22 young men who lived there signed up to join the military, including her own two sons.

We must remember as well the doctors and nurses who helped our soldiers regain their health. One of them was Dr. Young whose statue is now in Kew Gardens.

The Beaches Business Association created the cenotaph in Kew Gardens in 1946. I will see you there on Tuesday, Nov. 11, for Remembrance Day.

Any comments, suggestions or information about Remembrance Day are appreciated.