In any healthy community, communication often leads to positive change.
That’s just what happened when a long-time Leaside resident and veteran, who chooses to remain anonymous, made some interesting observations about the signs promoting the annual Remembrance Day Walk.
The walk, which has been an annual event since 2022, is the brainchild of the Leaside Heritage Preservation Society (LHPS). The event takes participants to the houses where 18 young Leasiders lived before heading off to battle during the Second World War, none of whom were to return home. At each place the fallen Leasider’s story is told.
An example profile is featured below (of Richard John Walton).
The event is very popular and was even nominated for a 2023 Heritage Toronto Public History Award. One participant was quoted as saying the walk is poignant, and that “the bios made it come alive. …I’m looking forward to more tours like this one” (Leaside Life, Dec. 1, 2022).
The eagle-eyed Leaside veteran, who had done two deployments to Afghanistan, remarked, “I was impressed by the whole gesture but was surprised to see the poster refer only to soldiers.” He pointed out, a ‘soldier’ is a member of the army, the land component of the armed forces. In fact, of all the fallen Leasiders remembered on the walk, only two were soldiers in the strictest sense, with the others being mostly airmen or sailors. This is not surprising since the survival rate was lowest for those who joined the air force (RCAF or RAF) compared with those in the army or navy.
“As an organization that is committed to this community and its history, we listen to our stakeholders and their concerns and respond accordingly,” said LHPS Chair Ann Brown.
So, this year when you join the Remembrance Day Walk, you’ll notice something different: brand new signage. To take part in this year’s walk, on Nov. 11, meet at Trace Manes Park, commencing at 2:00 p.m.
Richard John Walton (1924-1944)
Richard Walton enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 1942 at the age of 18. At the time of his enlistment, he was living at 871 Millwood Road. On June 22, 1944, his aircraft (a Lancaster bomber) was on a bombing mission over Europe when it failed to return to base. It was later determined that the plane had been shot down over Belgium. There were no survivors. Richard Walton is buried at the Concelho Cemetery in Belgium. He was 20 years old at the time of his death. — Canadian Virtual War Memorial website; Ancestry.ca.
