Veterans throw out the first pitch at Jays game

Three residents of the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre threw out the first pitch at the June 30 Toronto Blue Jays game, as part of the team's Canada Day weekend celebrations.

Watch our veterans throw out the first pitch and hear music therapist Trish MacAulay sing the national anthem.

Sunnybrook is home to Canada's largest veterans care facility. Working in close partnership with Veterans Affairs Canada, we offer long term and complex hospital care to 475 veterans from the Second World War and Korean War.

WWII Veteran Ed Greenbaum

Born in Toronto, Ed joined the Royal Canadian Air Force after he graduated high school. He served across Canada as an instrument mechanic during the Second World War. After his service, he worked at and later became owner of Pollack’s Sporting Goods Store on Queen Street East. He is a big Blue Jays fan at 93 years young.

WWII Veteran Jean Vanwart

Born in Quebec in 1919, Jean will be turning 100 years young this fall. Jean decided to enlist in the Canadian Women’s Army Corps. to make her contribution to the war efforts. After training, Jean was deployed overseas to England, where she served as clerical support as well as a driver and mechanic. While in England, Jean met her husband, who served with the Canadian Army.

WWII Veteran Bill Martin

Born in 1925 in Toronto, Bill is now 94 years young. Bill chose to join the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War and was assigned to the minesweeper HMCS Burlington, where he served as a stoker. He spent the war in the western Atlantic, mostly between Halifax and St. John’s.