Honour Ride returns

From the Veterans Honour Ride

TORONTO, ON -- They sacrificed their youth and in many cases their lives for our freedom and on Saturday, July 23, starting at 12 noon, Canadian War Veterans will be remembered and celebrated at the 2005 Veterans Honour Ride, the third annual event of its kind.

Co-chaired by Julian Fantino, Ontario’s Commissioner of Emergency Management, and William Bell, the Mayor of Richmond Hill, and led by members of the Toronto, OPP & York Regional Police Forces, approximately 300 motorcyclists will take part in the Ride, culminating in the presentation of donations to both Sunnybrook & Women’s Hospital Veterans “K-Wing” and The Tony Stacey Centre for Veterans Care. Participants will also use the opportunity to personally thank Canada’s Veterans for their service to our country.

Additional dignitaries on the ride will include Major General (Ret’d) Lewis McKenzie, York Regional Police Chief Armand La Barge, Acting Chief of Toronto Police Gary Grant, Ontario MPP Dan McTeague, WWII Veterans and media personalities, many riding in motorcycle sidecars.

The Veterans Honour Ride will leave Harley-Davidson Toronto on Front St. at 12:30 p.m. and will travel up the DVP, across Eglinton Ave. and north on Bayview Ave. to Sunnybrook Hospital, Veterans “K-Wing.” From there, the procession will head north on Bayview Ave. and across Hwy. 401 to The Tony Stacey Center For Veterans Care in Scarborough.

The Veterans Honour Ride Foundation is a registered Canadian charity. All officers, directors, committee members and volunteers donate their time and efforts out of gratitude towards and respect for Canada’s war veterans.

Canada has proclaimed 2005 the official “Year of the Veteran” a celebration of courage.