Jack Dyson was born in England in 1926, and moved to Guelph, Ontario with his family when he was three years old. His father was a coal miner and wanted to provide different opportunities for Jack. Jack’s path would indeed be very different, but in ways his parents couldn’t have imagined. When the war began, Jack remembers a strong pull to serve his country, travelling to Hamilton, Ontario to enlist with the Royal Canadian Navy. Being physically small, he was initially turned down. Undeterred, Jack returned a few months later and his persistence paid off. “I became the youngest man in active service in Canada at the time,” says Jack. “I like people and I like people who do their part.”

After completing a month of training in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, Jack was sent to Halifax. Within two weeks, he was assigned to the HMCS Boniface, commissioned as a minesweeper but served convoy protection that covered the northern part of the Atlantic. He spent two years on the ship which endured ongoing threats and sank two U-boats during Jack’s tenure on board. He also remembers picking up ships from ports in St. John’s Newfoundland, New York and Halifax to accompany them on the long and slow journey to Europe.

After the war, Jack moved back to his hometown of Guelph. There, he worked at a foundry and became a sought-after tool-and-dye specialist. His career then moved into sales in the toy industry, where Jack’s hard-work ethic quickly propelled his rise to assisting the company’s president.

Looking back at the war, Jack is fiercely proud of his time in service and his contributions to Canada. “I don’t understand people who live in the greatest country in the world, bar none, and have a pout.” He says Operation Raise a Flag is an important way for Canadians to recognize the contributions of all Veterans. Seeing the sea of flags planted outside the Veterans Centre on November 11th is something that makes him emotional because it represents the kindness of others. His message to Canadians is simple but powerful: give what you can.

In the fall of 1944, 17 year old Clayton (Clay) Hayes hopped a freight train headed to the West Coast of British Columbia from his home in Brandon, Manitoba and enlisted in the Canadian Merchant Navy. His brother was already serving with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). His father had served with the Merchant Navy (United Kingdom) during World War I (WWI). Stationed in Vancouver, Clay was assigned to the Goldstream Park merchant ship. Merchant ships carried vital cargo to the people affected by the war (food / clothing) as well as much needed military supplies (aircraft, tanks, guns and munitions) and whatever else was required for the war effort.

The Goldstream traveled down the Pacific coast, through the Panama Canal to New York Harbor where it would become part of a convoy of 80–90 ships gathering from across the United States and Canada before heading across the Atlantic to England. Because of its vital cargo, the convoy was a prime target for enemy surface raiders and U-boats. Part of Clay’s job as an Able Bodied Seaman was either to man the crow’s nest, on watch for enemy subs and aircraft, or to be at the wheel steering the ship.

Clay recalls that on one trip leaving from Vancouver, they were hit by a severe storm off the coast of California. All hands were on deck, trying to save the lumber secured to the deck with chains. The storm was so bad, they lost all the lumber and a number of crewmen (including a friend of his) were badly injured. The injured were taken to a hospital in San Pedro, California before the Goldstream renewed its trip.

One of the scariest moments came while unloading their cargo at the Surrey Commercial Docks in southeast London. The fleet got hit numerous times by unmanned German planes launched from German occupied France. Although the bombs landed close by, their ship was not hit. Others were and lives were lost. After the war ended in 1945, Clay stayed on for another two to three years to help with the post war rebuilding efforts.

Upon his return home, Clay married Margaret Doyle and together they raised four children (three daughters and a son). Over the course of his working life, Clay owned and operated several small businesses in the Toronto area including one that manufactured menu covers and another that sold industrial latex to art supply stores across Canada and the United States. He retired at the age of 85. Margaret passed away in 2010 at age 82.

When asked about his war experience, Clay is positive. “I’d do it again for sure,” he said. “The whole war experience was very good. I’m very proud of the role that the Merchant Navy played in providing desperately needed equipment, fuel, food and personnel to Europe and around the world.”

Tom Instance was born in Toronto in 1924. At the young age of 14, Tom left school so that he could help his family provide for his four siblings during the tough times of the Great Depression. While his father was driving for the TTC, Tom worked delivering newspapers, groceries, and doing whatever he could to help out. He even helped at a shipyard where he caught rivets that were used to build equipment for the war.

When he became of age, Tom enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy. He was inspired by his father who had served in the Royal Navy in England before moving to Canada. After he completed his training, he was assigned to the HMCS Uganda, a light cruiser in the Royal Navy which was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy in the later years of WWII. On board the Uganda, Tom worked in the engine room and ensured that those working there were safe and did not get too hot.

Tom has fond memories of spending time on the Uganda. He spent lots of time on the mess deck with his crewmates, and sleeping in hammocks under the torpedoes!

During his time during the war, Tom went overseas a small number of times. He mainly worked in navy yards along the American coast, travelling back and forth from Canada bringing important equipment parts. He also once travelled through the Suez Canal to Egypt. During his service, Tom witnessed some battle as planes would fly and shoot overhead the ship.

At the end of the war, Tom was discharged in Vancouver and he then returned home to his wife and child.

Born in 1930, Sang Woong Lee spent most of his life in South Korea raising a family of six, and immigrated to Canada later into his adult life.

He spent many years with the Korean Army, and was deployed for service in the Korean War. He fought in the notable Battle of Incheon. He was specifically involved with the Incheon Landing, also known as Operation Chromite. He was also one of the members of the Army Unit that planted the South Korean flag at the centre of Seoul’s government building after two weeks of fighting. Thus, reclaiming the city and signifying its return to the government on September 29th, 1950. What a momentous moment to be a part of at the young age of 20.

After the war he then carried on in his career as military police. He also spent time in Vietnam and Saudi Arabia fulfilling various other roles. Now in his nineties, he calls the Veterans Centre at Sunnybrook home.

When Richard Ratcliffe left his home in St. Catherines, Ontario to enlist at age 17, he was on a quest for adventure, eventually travelling far from the Royal Canadian Naval College in British Columbia to the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Western Pacific, as well as seeing active service during the Korean War.

As a member of the Royal Canadian Navy, Richard participated in daring missions around the world, buoyed by a sense of pride in being able to defend the interests of the United Nations and NATO over the course of a successful military career that spanned roughly 25 years.

He rose through the ranks, serving aboard 12 ships and ultimately as Commander of the famed destroyer the HMCS Qu’Appelle, with a crew of 230. During the Korean conflict from 1950 to 1952, he helped provide anti-aircraft and anti-submarine defence, which included escorting an aircraft carrier flying strikes into North Korea.

Following active duty, Richard served another five years with the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve. Subsequently, he worked for the Maritime Council of Premiers in the Nova Scotia government, and as head of the residence at St. Mary’s University. In 1981, he and Mary Patricia, his wife of almost 50 years, established Cumberland County Knitters, a cottage industry that manufactured hand-knit sweaters and fashion accessories.

While Richard’s naval career was filled with drama, one of the highlights of his life took place in 2017 when he soared over Niagara Falls by helicopter with his grandson Joe as part of the Sunnybrook Veterans Grant a Wish, a program made possible by donor support. Viewing Niagara Falls from the air had been a life-long dream of his. “As children, the Falls were always an attraction for us. The ride lasted just 12 minutes, but for me, it was the trip of a lifetime.”

His “can do” attitude and leadership abilities still characterize Richard well into his nineties. As a resident in Sunnybrook’s Veterans Centre, he’s enjoying sharing stories and memories with his fellow Veterans, but he lives very much in the present. In 2017, he was elected president of the Veteran and Community Residents’ Council. What’s more, that year he was also featured on the Toronto Star front page as one of three Veteran bearers of the Invictus flag.

Richard’s adventure continues, this time in service of his fellow Veterans with whom he shares his youthful spirit and love of life. “The war was exciting, but right now is just as exciting,” he exclaims. He is visibly moved when expressing his gratitude to Sunnybrook Veterans Centre for the outstanding care he has received. In 2017, Richard said “We’re 475 of the most privileged people in Canada. We’re treated like royalty every day.”

Born in Guyana in 1951, Oswald “Ozzie” Reece immigrated to Canada when he was just 13 years old. His grandfather fought with the British Army in both WWI and WWII, and his father, uncle and brothers all served. As a result of his military family influence, Ozzie joined the Canadian Forces as part of the 48th Highlanders of Canada when he was 21. Ozzie once said “I was an infantry man and for me that was bang-on because I was like Top Gun, I was a marksman.”

Based out of Toronto, the 48th Highlanders of Canada is a Canadian Forces Primary Reserve infantry regiment. This regiment plays an important role in the City of Toronto, participating in many community events and functions. In 1998, this regiment provided a full royal guard for Queen Elizabeth II.

Ozzie was a part of the 48th Highlanders for 34 years. As a Sergeant, he served in countries all around the world. He was deployed to Israel, Egypt, Golan Heights, Cyprus and more on peacekeeping missions for the United Nations. He also trained in places across Europe, including Germany, as part of NATO. Ozzie was promoted to Regimental Quartermaster after returning to Canada, where he served as an instructor at Moss Park Armoury for 25 years.

Today the Canadian Forces are made up of individuals of all different races, backgrounds and genders, but when Ozzie served, he noted the lack of diversity. As one of the few soldiers of colour at the time, he made sure he stood up for respect.

Born and raised in the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia, Marion had been teaching in Nova Scotia from 1937-1944 after graduation from Normal College. In 1944, however, Marion decided to sign up with the Canadian Women’s Army Corps. She had hoped that she would be assigned overseas, somewhere like London, England. Along with 45 other CWACs, Marion attended basic training at Camp Borden, Ontario.

Since Marion had previously been a teacher, the army made use of her teaching skills giving her the job of instructing CWACs as clerks and clerk stenographers, as well as classes in Canadian Military Law, etc., in Ottawa.

At the cessation of hostilities, Marion was appointed to the Medical Headquarters where she was employed as a statistician on war injuries under Colonel Crawford. She particularly worked on statistics on Canadian prisoners of war with the Japanese, one of whom had been Colonel Crawford himself. A very memorable event from this work was a gathering together of the Japanese prisoners of war who were on their way to Tokyo to partake in the Japanese war crimes trials. Marion and others met them all as a group at the CWAC Sergeant’s Mess. This can best be described as a happy event as these men were survivors, but it was also the most traumatic event that Marion ever attended, knowing these men’s stories.

Marion was demobilized from the military after her time at the Medical Headquarters. Shortly thereafter, she married John Sawers who was in the Canadian Intelligence Corps at the time. John and Marion had 65 years of marriage, lived in four Canadian cities but resided mostly in Ottawa, where they raised their two daughters. They retired to their home in the country near Portland, Ontario, and also enjoyed their time travelling to many countries over the years. John was admitted to Sunnybrook Veterans Centre in the last months of his life, passing away in 2012, and a year later, Marion came to live at Sunnybrook. She still enjoys activities such as Art Therapy and cooking classes, but Marion’s favourite place is out in the lovely garden area at Sunnybrook. Marion is 104 as of September, 2021.

As one of Canada’s largest Veteran Centres, we are proud to provide long-term and complex hospital care to Veterans.

This Remembrance Day, Operation Raise a Flag will raise funds in support of the Veterans’ program at Sunnybrook.

We invite you to make a donation in tribute to our Veterans. With your support, 30,000 Canadian flags will be planted across the Sunnybrook campus as a powerful symbol of honour, remembrance, and gratitude.

As part of this initiative, we will honour the contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Veterans with flags featuring artwork created by Indigenous artist Philip Cote.

Today, Sunnybrook is one of Canada’s largest Veteran Centres, working in close partnership with Veterans Affairs Canada. We are honoured to provide personalized care to eligible Veterans who have served Canada over the past century and provide them with the best cognitive, physical, mental health and stroke care. Our dedicated inter-professional care teams provide specialized care to Veterans who live here, to patients with palliative care needs, and patients in our transitional care programs.

This year, your generous contribution will support quality of life programs for the Veterans within the Veterans Centre including accessibility and offsite and on-site programs.

Download our Veterans Impact Report to read about the difference your donation makes.

Click to Donate here
Telephone: 1-866-696-2008
Mail in your donation: Sunnybrook Foundation, 2075 Bayview Avenue, KGW01, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5.

Every donation will raise a flag.

Yes. If you donate online, a tax receipt will be issued immediately to the email address provided.

If you donate through the mail, a tax receipt will be placed in the mail and received within 10 business days.

Yes, you can. However, the tax receipt will be made out to the individual making the donation.

We cannot guarantee the lifespan of these paper flags. Weather permitting, the flags will remain on the lawn throughout Remembrance Day and will be removed the morning of November 13th.

Flags are collected and recycled.

The flags are manufactured in Ontario and purchased from a local retail vendor — The Flag Shop.

Flags are not personalized and messages are combined for all of the Veterans. If there is a specific Veteran that you wish to honour, we will do our best to pass your message along to them.

This is not possible as the flags are not personalized and are planted all together.

You can volunteer on November 10 and help plant 30,000 Canadian and Indigenous artwork flags on the Sunnybrook grounds creating a patriotic sea of red and white. Our Veterans will awaken on Remembrance Day knowing that you care about their great sacrifice.

Volunteer registration is now open.

This year, we are pleased to invite back volunteers from our community, Sunnybrook staff, and a group from the Canadian military to plant the flags to ensure the Veterans are honoured for their service.

The artwork was created by Philip Cote, an Indigenous artist, activist, educator, historian, cultural advisor and Ancestral Knowledge Keeper from Moose Deer Point First Nation. Citing all of his ancestry, he is Shawnee, Lakota, Potawatomi, Ojibway, Algonquin and Mohawk.

Philip created this drawing to commemorate the long tradition of service and sacrifices in war of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit people of Canada. Each element of the flag is rich in symbolism. The buffalo represents Indigenous ancestors and another nation, indicating we are in a circle connected together on the same level. The medicine wheel is divided into four colours, where the buffalo sits in the west, the turtle in the east, the eagle in the south and the bear in the north. The east is where the sun rises, so that represents the beginning of life.

The magnificent crimson colours of the poppies are also significant as they symbolize sacred fire, a common aspect of Remembrance Day ceremonies. During these ceremonies, people are invited to say a few words for their ancestors, the ones that fought in war. An offering is made along with offering thanks for their deeds.

Learn more about Philip and his artwork.