A Room Of My Own

A double ceremony recently held in Trenton Ontario meant for a full day of honour, respect and remembrance for our military personnel. To begin with, the repatriation ceremony of Canada’s 156th fallen soldier, Bombardier Karl Manning, made its way down the Highway of Heroes to CFB 8 Wing. Attendees included government officials such as the Governor General David Johnston, family members and the public at large. This solemn event was followed by the beginning of a nation wide tour of the Portraits of Honour mural. This hand painted mural is a staggering 10 foot by 40 foot memorial depicting, with striking precision, all Canadian soldiers, sailors and air crew that have given their lives to the war in Afghanistan. The artist, Dave Sopha, is the son of a Canadian soldier and a British War Bride, and also a member of the service club Kin Canada in Cambridge Ontario. In response to the loss of Canadian soldiers since 2002, Dave began to do what he does best; paint. As an accomplished ar...

When a fallen soldier returns home... After spending more than a decade living away from Ontario, living in BC, I decided to move my family back home - home for me anyways. We settled in the Quinte area and I slowly re-familiarized myself with the culture here. Soon after the move we planned a trip to Toronto. We headed West on the 401, and just after passing Trenton, we came to a bridge draped in a Canadian flag. It was not Canada day. The bridge was full of people wearing red. There was a fire truck there with lights swirling, cars were honking, people were waving and I was confused and proud at the same time. The next bridge and every bridge thereafter was the same; police cars, emergency vehicles, more fire trucks at every bridge and overpass. More honking- more people- more pride. It was quite moving. It was only afterwards that I learned I had been following a repatriation motorcade. The year was 2002. Repatriation ceremonies are a part of the culture here that is not witnes...