Emery Village BIA Executive Director’s message - October 2023

Emery Village BIA

Executive Director’s message

With November soon approaching this gives us an opportunity to reflect and show our gratitude for the sacrifices of all the brave men and women who were away from their families and fought in the wars for our freedom and to serve our country.

We must remember…If we do not, the sacrifice and courage of those one hundred thousand Canadian lives many of which had just turned 18 will be meaningless. They died for us, for their homes and families and friends and a future they believed in.

Thank you for your sacrifices, your courage and for putting your country first.

We would like to honour all the veterans from our Humber River Black Creek community who have served for Canada both in peace time, and in war.

The Joseph Bannon Park is dedicated to the memory of one of Emery’s greatest community champions. Born in Scotland in 1919, Joseph Bannon enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force and in 1944 was part of the invading Canadian Forces that landed at Juno Beach on D-Day

His name and military regalia are permanently displayed as part of the Canadian War Memorial at Juno Beach and where I visited along with my husband and children in 2012.

After the war, Joseph Bannon settled with his family in a “war home” in the new Weston subdivisions, built for returning veterans and their families. Bannon’s experience during the war, where he witnessed the suffering, loss and devastation of the surviving children led him to his lifelong commitment and dedication to their care. In addition to their own two children, Joe Bannon and his wife Doris May became foster parents to over 100 unwanted children, seven of which they adopted. Please join us to pay our respects to our veterans at our annual Remembrance Day ceremony on:

Saturday, November 11th, 2023

Joseph Bannon Park

65 Mary Chapman Boulevard

at 11:00am sharp

Light refreshments will be served shortly after the ceremony in the tent.

For further information please contact us at: info@emeryvillagebia.ca or at: 416-744-7242

Sincerely,

Sandra Farina

Executive Director