Meet some of Canada's oldest war veterans

Below are the faces of 10 residents who have resided at Sunnybrook’s Veterans Centre. Along with being war heroes, these men and women also share another thing in common – they are all 100 years old, or older. At the end of the First World War — one hundred years ago — these veterans were just beginning their lives.

Project published in November 2018

Frank Mendham, 102 years old. Served in WWII, Army, Tank Commander, The Elgin Regiment

Leslie Mann, 100 years old. Served in WWII, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps – 1st Division

Marion Sawers, 101 years old. Served in WWII, Canadian Women’s Army Corps. (CWAC)

Douglas Cochrane, 100 years old. Served in WWII, Royal Canadian Air Force

Frances McIlroy, 101 years old. Served in WWII, Canadian Women’s Army Corps, Nurse

John Boyd, 105 years old. Served in WWII, Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Corps of Signals - Communications and Electronics Branch

Currie Gardner, 100 years old. Served in WWII, Royal Canadian Air Force, Typhoon Bomber Pilot, 440 Squadron (Ottawa)

Bert Garfield, 101 years old. Served in WWII, Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Corps of Signals

Kosta Grachos, 103 years old. Served in WWII, Greek Army

Adeline Bowland, 103 years old. Served in WWII, No.14 General Hospital, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps., Nurse

Remembrance Day allows us to acknowledge our appreciation to those who have strengthened our country with their example of courage, service and sacrifice. We remember all the men and women past and present, who courageously volunteered for the cause of freedom and peace.

Thank you for your dedication and service to Canada.

Lest we forget.

» Learn more about Sunnybrook's Veterans Centre

In 1948, then-prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King officially opened Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. It was a symbol of a nation’s gratitude, massive in size and designed to be world-class. Today, it is home to the largest veterans care facility in Canada, providing nursing home and complex continuing care to 475 Veterans who served in the Second World War and the Korean War. On a daily basis the interprofessional staff provide specialized compassionate, resident-centred care based on the needs and wishes of the residents and their families.

Veterans reside in three connected facilities: George Hees Wing (L-Wing), Kilgour Wing (K-Wing) and the Dorothy Macham Home. Resident care is divided into four main categories: physical support, cognitive support, mental health and palliative care. Some Veterans have unique care needs such as dementia or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The battles of aging and physical health can be every bit as challenging for our aging Canadian war veterans as those they fought overseas decades ago.

To enhance quality of life, the Veterans Centre offers many unique, leading-edge recreation and creative arts therapy programs. Some of the most popular programs are art therapy, music therapy, and horticultural therapy. Each month there are approximately 30 outings by bus to various sporting or social events in the community. All activities are led by registered professional members of accredited therapy associations.

For more information on eligibility please contact Veterans Affairs Canada at 1-866-522-2122. If you have other questions about the Veterans Centre please contact Veterans.experience@sunnybrook.ca or visit sunnybrook.ca/veterans

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Photography by Kevin Van Paassen
Project published in November 2018