Remembrance Day is approaching next weekend, and although the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library will be closed for the holiday, we have a lineup of special events to honour those who have fought for our peace.
First in our series of events, we have a thought-provoking film screening of Remembrance Day: Past, Present, and Future, taking place Nov. 8 at 11 a.m.
This 30-minute video highlights the significance of Remembrance Day as told through the eyes of individuals who selflessly sacrificed their freedom to ensure we could hold onto our own.
Later in the week, we are privileged to host veteran and author E. Scott Maclagan for our speaker series to discuss his new book, Cold War Over Canada.
Maclagan will share stories from his recently published book in the boardroom on Nov. 10 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
In his book, Maclagan shares his personal experiences as a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) during the Cold War, recounting his role as a backseat navigator and radar operator. He embarked on this literary journey as a tribute to his pilot, the unsung hero he credits with saving not only his life but the lives of fellow RCAF members.
More information on Maclagan’s book can be found in this article published last month.
Additionally, you may have noticed the poignant tributes around the library, paying homage to local veterans for whom streets in Bradford are named.
Did you know there are more than 50 streets in town named after those who served their country? Maybe you even live on one of them. You can easily identify them by the presence of a poppy next to the street name.
Right beside the library, you’ll find Brian Collier Way, named after our hometown hero, Sapper Brian Collier, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2010 at the age of 24 by an improvised explosive device.
I always think about this brave young man, who was my age. He had his whole life ahead of him and made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.
For the families of these fallen soldiers, Remembrance Day is every day, and we must never forget their selfless acts of courage.
I encourage everyone to check out this touching display featuring the lives and stories of these heroes. You can explore the full list of Bradford veterans’ street names here as well.
’Til next week, happy reading.
Natasha Philpott is the marketing and communications co-ordinator at the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library. She can be reached at [email protected].
