War Pensioners of Canada celebrate 99 years in Sudbury
The War Pensioners of Canada celebrated its 99th anniversary in Sudbury Wednesday by having a luncheon.
The group formed in the early 1900s and helped guide veterans through the process of getting pensions and medical care.
The local War Pensioners of Canada group held one last Christmas lunch before they surrender their colours next year.
“We’re surrendering our colours and our artifacts to the Canadian war museum so it’s there for other people to see,” said Chris Pick, president War Pensioners of Canada Sudbury, Espanola/Manitoulin.
"But as each individual member dies, we are retaining the title of ambassadors of the War Pensioners of Canada."
Also at the lunch, the Sudbury and Espanola/Manitoulin branch amalgamated.
“That’s an important thing in itself. But it puts all of our resources and finances into one pot, ready for when we go to Ottawa, which makes it much easier when we close the books,” said Pick.
People in attendance said they will miss these gatherings and hope they will all keep in touch in the years to come, even after they disband the group.
“For me, it’s to be with people that we’ve been with for a long time,” said member Wayne Golden.
"I’m a veteran and I joined to help serve veterans. I hate to see it happen, but we have to live with it. We are the sole survivor left out of a few hundred."
The War Pensioners are planning to make their way to Ottawa in September of next year to officially hand over their colours to the Canadian War Museum.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.