Recapping Veterans Week 2025

Since opening its doors in 1948 as Sunnybrook Military Hospital, Sunnybrook has been committed to supporting Veterans. Today, as one of Canada’s largest Veteran care facilities, we continue to honour this legacy—supporting those who have served, are currently serving, and those who will serve in the future.

Each year between November 3-11, we gather and host events to honour the service and sacrifice of all Veterans, including the nearly 150 who call Sunnybrook home.

Prior to the official start of Sunnybrook’s Veterans Week, we had the privilege of welcoming Her Honour Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario on October 30, where she received the first poppy for the Royal Canadian Legion’s 2025 Poppy Campaign. Her Honour then pinned the second poppy on Major-General Richard Rohmer.

Over the course of the week, Sunnybrook held many different events which recognize the contributions of all who served. On November 8, we celebrated Indigenous Veterans Day, a day to recognize the courage and long tradition of service of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people who proudly served Canada. To mark the occasion, Indigenous Veterans who live at Sunnybrook were gifted hand-beaded poppies created by Joanna Diindiisikwe Simmons and staff recreated an art installation that was originally commissioned by Sunnybrook and created by Indigenous artist Philip Cote.

For many of the Veteran residents, this meaningful week is filled with time for reflection and cherished traditions. One long-standing tradition is the annual visit by the Toronto Maple Leafs. This year Veterans had the opportunity to meet, chat with, have autographs signed, pose for photos and even share a drink or two with active players Scott Laughton, Bobby McMann and Steven Lorentz, and alumni Wendel Clark.

This year, a few Veterans met a special guest who visited Sunnybrook’s Veteran Centre for the first time. In partnership with the True Patriot Love Foundation, we hosted the Duke of Sussex on November 6. During his visit, he toured the art therapy spaces of the Veterans Centre and met with Veterans, sharing laughs, stories and banter. At the end of the visit, Veterans Brenda Reid and Harold Toth presented the Duke with a helmet they had painted in advance. A second helmet, painted by a group of Sunnybrook Veterans and finished by Veteran Jim La Force with assistance from the Duke, was later auctioned at the True Patriot Love Foundation’s National Tribute Dinner, which two residents attended.

Throughout the week, many government officials visited the Veterans Centre to thank residents for their service and sacrifice. On November 9, the Honourable Jill McKnight, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, and Associate Deputy Minister Christine McDowell visited the Veterans Centre.

For the last 15 years, Veteran residents have woken up on November 11 to a sea of flags across the Bayview campus as a symbol of gratitude for all who have served. To accomplish this, hundreds of volunteers came out on November 10 to plant thousands of flags across the campus and inside L-Wing for the 15th annual Operation Raise a Flag. In the snow-covered ground, Canadian flags stood alongside flags featuring Indigenous artwork by Philip Cote to honour First Nations, Inuit and Métis Veterans who proudly served Canada. We were honoured to be joined by our local MP Rob Oliphant, Don Valley West Councillor Rachel Chernos-Lin and, in the morning on November 11, Premier Doug Ford, MPP Michelle Cooper, MPP Laura Smith and Secretary of Cabinet Michelle E. DiEmanuele, all of whom planted flags in tribute to Veterans.

The end of Veterans Week at Sunnybrook is marked by the annual Remembrance Day ceremony for Veterans and their families on November 11 in Warrior’s Hall.

After the service, the 400 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, students from Upper Canada College and the Highland Creek Pipes and Drums Band led a procession to the Sunnybrook Cenotaph where Veterans, staff, volunteers and community members joined together to honour those who served and paid the ultimate sacrifice. The event concluded with two minutes of silence, then a singing of O Canada and God Save the King. As attendees left, they were encouraged to place pinned poppies on bare wreaths to mark the close of Remembrance Day.

Thank you to all who joined us to honour Veterans—past, present and future. If you missed it live, please take a moment to watch our Remembrance Day ceremony.