Decoration Day Newmarket True Vet @ 69

I am a bit ashamed to say I never, before Sunday past, really understood the significance of Decoration Day nor why it was separate from the more well known Remembrance Day which I've attended and covered much of in the past, and in fact even produced a one-off old variety style radio show live to the troops one year which featured many local talents including Sean Stephens (now CEO of Tree Frog Interactive), Hurricane Mike Thompson, and as I recall an excellent capela youth group sent from the now passed Merlene Samuel - Cephas' Spotlight Theatre school grads who sang more than O Canada live to the troops via our radio show!

More recently I was involved in produce/directing a series of taped video interviews featuring prominent voices from Newmarket's history who have lived here for so many years, often with family who helped sjape the area including the daughter of the areas first police chief. But it was 93 year old Reg Harrison who stood out most to me, his face striking me as one that held so many experiences only someone going through the war from that era could know. Reg proudly came out to share with us in that interview with aid of a walker and enjoyed it too I think. So it was a great to see him once again as he took a spot to attend the 69th edition of the Newmarket's hosting of Decoration Day hosted by the Newmarket Vets Association.

I had attended Decoration Day last year but still was unclear about it's true meaning until this year when asked if I would assist in laying a wreath in recognition of fallen and homeless soldiers, in solidarity with the local Inn From The Cold Shelter. Although I have no official connection to the Inn, I appreciated the inclusion, I guess having been recognized as a person who has worked towards making changes locally in areas that afflict the homeless and was honoured regardless to be asked to be part of such a tribute day.

Ironically I have been actively working with the owner of a property just north of Green Lane in Sharon, Ontario to develop it into a unique, supportive home with built-in community and mental health supports and to that end have approached the Ontario office that assists adjusting and homeless veterans find suitable / affordable housing and supports to see if there would be a need - and indeed there is. Now using the working name of, the House of Hope, the property owner plans to be a hands-on operator and is excited at the prospect of it becoming a supportive home as its interior fixes come closer to being completed. Let's hope. Click here to follow its progress on Face Book.

Canadian Decoration Day

Originally started on June 2 1890, Decoration Day was started as sort of a protest in order to have fallen and wounded soldiers and their families recognized by the federal government of the times. In fact they were the very first Canadian led brigades to fight a foe, battling in Fort Erie repelling the Fenian raids which were made up of a mixture of anti-British Irish and American soldiers which included the Battle of Ridgeway in 1866.

The hardships endured by those maimed and killed and then their families suddenly devoid of the breadwinner as well can only be imagined and was started by other soldiers themselves, dropping flowers at the Canadian Volunteers Monument at Queens Park, and has been kept up in recognition since - for the past 69 in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada where in 2017 the special guest speaker was the Ontario Housing Minister as well as homelessness fixer designate no less, Chris Ballard, who spoke in reminder of its meaning and asked us to imagine being their families. It was suitable an Ontario representative spoke as Ontario did give some recognition / support to those soldiers whereas the feds did not.

MPP Chris Ballard

Interesting to see the young up and comers taking part but there's a world of difference today and one can only imagine the horrors guys like Reggie Harrison saw fighting to keep us safe and enabling the very lives we too often take for granted today. I caught Reggie once again as he and his son exited the Vets Hall, the Mayor holding the door for me as he exited and I prepared to enter. Reggie's son was carrying a street sign called Harrison Trail and with Mayor Van Bynen having just left it didn't take a rocket scientist. For once I agree with a street naming by a politician wholeheartedly.

" Geez Reg I missed it! I said, " I didn't know they were doing this or I'd have come right way. I didn't get a pic!"

" We can get one outside", his proud son replied.

And we did! You can catch Reg Harrison's full History Hound interview here as produced by TPE.

We now add forevermore Randy Leaman's name to the crosses on Decoration Day

Vet Decoration Day organizer / host Wes Playter is congratulated  by Mayor Van Bynen on a good job

Spot the diff!?

Until next time!

TP out!

Environment Minister in Aurora Ontario

Ontario Environment Minister Glen Murray takes questions in Aurora

When I first saw the Facebook posting that someone had some extra free tickets to a special theatre viewing of the documentary by Leonardo Dicaprio, Before The Flood, my first instinct was as a filmmaker, wondering how Dicaprio would be at making a documentary - being an award winning documentary Producer / Director myself. No Academy Awards winner perhaps, such as Leo has won, but nevertheless I was more curious about the crossover genre and how he'd be than the subject matter, truth be known. And he was okay as host, but it was the material covered that was the biggest shocker for me.

Not that I didn't know about "global warming" and "climate change", of course I did, but I never really gave it enough of a look and thought before in order to realize how critical the issue was. And a lot of that has to do with the past corporate push-back against the science I believe, which is now indisputable.

The film takes us on a journey across the earth into different regions - remote tar sands in Canada, sea side locations and the furthest reaches of the north pole where we are shown how much ice layer has melted now in just so many years, and learn that because the grey and dark ground underneath cannot reflect light back as it once did the area continues to warm.

It awakened me to the urgency of the need for the world to act, and that there are measurable ways to which the problem can be addressed, but it has to be now or so or else there is simply no way to stop it. It is that serious. I believe corporate crafted science bashing played some role in that for a spell, perhaps leaving enough of a seed of doubt to keep me from being concerned but those days are gone now.

We learn from the outset, that Dicaprio had been made a world ambassador to the U.N., and he gets an opportunity to address them, so his final scenes speech is shown after he's visited all these areas and zones across the world, while meeting with locals and scientists, to give us a full picture of what is happening globally due to greenhouse gases. We also learned about how the "false springs'. due to wild weather patterns. are affecting everything from flowers to crops, and how the U.S. only uses 5% of its farming land for food, while most is beef. And which cows emit Co2 through burping. Choosing anything other than beef to eat was one way to help reduce emissions we are told. Wow. who moo? Er,..I mean, who knew? Or that palm oil, because they clear millions of acres of trees and vegetation to grow it, is destroying our environment. Don't use palm oil.

Dicaprio points out that the Paris Accord is / was only a voluntary agreement in which the participating countries agreed to lower their carbon emissions levels. Still, there is room for optimism the movie points out, as even China has agreed to reductions for the first time, facing increasing pressure from citizens in regards to it. In China it is the one protest issue they unite around because it is severely affecting the health of many now as some areas are almost unlivable because of it.

While the glaciers and caps melt, and floods and extreme weather fluctuations increase, it is the small, poorer island nations that will first begin seeking other places to live, They showed sea-side communities that already are no longer livable.because of climate change and others wiped out by record droughts. But what happens when there is no where else to move? It is that critical.

There was one bright spot in the documentary which was one of the last guests he interviews and who himself is dying of cancer but optimistic man can reverse course before its too late.

" We're well on our way towards 4 degrees increase and most scientists agree that if we get beyond 4 degrees shift we may not be EVER able to reverse it. adding " But I believe we can do it and am going to spend the rest of my life working towards that end" Climate Change Scientist. - see film clip.

At the end, attendees got a chance to ask special guest speaker and Ontario Minister of the Environment, Glen Murray who dropped in at the behest of local M.P.P. and Ontario Minister of Housing, Chris Ballard, of which you can listen to some of Minister Murray's insights from the evening by clicking here.

I do buy that global warming is a very critical issue that needs acting upon now, however I don't necessarily buy all the terms we are fed like " sustainable development" that come straight from the United Nations' 2021 and 2030 plans, which even an attending person from the Oak Ridges Moraine fight group mentioned the fact we are not going to reach 2021 goals, but she was not referring to the 2021 U.N. plan but another Ontario pledged goal date - not knowing they are connected. That is what I find scary, is residents and politicians alike quoting sustainable this and that BUT NOT EVEN KNOWING ITS ORIGINS. Don't you think they should?know its origins?

In fact, I find most politicians don't either seem aware or are told not to connect the dots, but all of our smart growth plans, sustainable housing and transportation, intensification, development even refugee resettlement camps and how we'll share our food with and who gets subsidies are all in the 2030 UN plan - and we are on its timetable, And that is where they lose me, because although I certainly agree we need to act, we need to act in Canada's best interests as well, not just the UN's, and that should not mean restrictions to where we choose to live or what we want to drive (cars) or how - unless made affordable for EVERYONE driving now.

I believe the only way this plan to push people into specific intensified areas with little or possibly no access to some designated green areas is what is coming down the pipes using climate change as its vehicle to govern it into place. This is my concern. And as an example one of the plans the Ontario government has out now offers $14,000 back if you buy a $28,000 green car. Most people I know are struggling just to keep their existing cars on the road let alone afford a new green mobile and so what of them in these plans? Transit they quietly mutter. Well, no.

The slow push towards also restricting where we can go freely in the name of whats "best' for everyone, as well as the accompanying video surveillance everywhere we go, for everyone's "safety" are other Big Brother-like concerns I have in regards to their plans.

It's like the fake news does - mix some real facts with some not so true facts to get you to arrive at a conclusion or support a system. Fact is, the end result sought by the originators of the plan is a world governed from the U.N., and rolled out based on their timetables which do not match ours. As well once international laws begin to supersede our own through some of the multi-national companies we now allow - say a dispute about buying our water - and other international courts like Human Rights Tribunals, then these international courts could over rule our own domestic laws as being unlawful -  in our own country!

All I know is the U.N. for all its good, actually prefers dictatorship types of government or communism, like China has, because of the long term stability in executing a world plan - such as the new direction in policy we may begin to see now in the U.S. with Donald Trump now at the helm that could put a dent in their plan - which in turn affects ours - all because we're on others' planned timetables and NOT OUR OWN. Do we wait for the next U.S. election or direction now? No, we need our own realistic sustainable plan.

Tom Pearson with homeless YR Farmer Sam Orrico

Yes we need start changing our ways and yesterday otherwise we risk losing the entire earth! But all I'm saying is we need to take the information from sources like this excellently rolled out flick and heed its advise to get going on our own local timetables that fits each community's's needs schedule, otherwise our own locals suffer whilst we waste millions upon millions of dollars building and running empty buses before we need them whilst we have Canadian men living in the streets in winter - whilst we say we cant afford to house them. There ain't no immediate global warming plan for them in these UN made directives. The attending Minister of Housing Ballard should perhaps take notes on that and hatch a plan on their behalf.

Tom Pearson

Marijuana Legalization - Trudeau changes the playing field

Now that Justin Trudeau and the Liberals are in power in Canada, expect an intense push by various groups to get things done towards making marijuana legal. But before we jump straight to that stage, lets take stock of what we already have in place and see if a way through cannot be found that has society's, and not special interests, best interests in mind.

I write this knowing full well it may offend some of the everyday people I know, but just know this, I believe there are proven cases where cannaboids give significant aid in prolonging health and life longevity. There is also some proof that prolonged early years use may cause a certain brain development deficiencies. But let's not confuse the two which is often the case.

Firstly, some seem not aware that pot and facsimiles are already a legal prescribe across Canada. There is still some legal debate going on as to who can grow and sell it so that needs hammered out but the group fighting for the right to grow has won the 1st round in court arguing "Everyone has the right to access medicine including home grown / natural remedies" according to our constitution.

The previous government has been fighting this insisting they control all growing and distribution for medical purposes, and that distribution outlets be set up and controlled by the state using state controlled partners only. In other words a monopoly. Problem is they're bad at it.

Aurora-Newmarket Liberal MP Kyle Peterson expected to act

Now that we are adding legalization of marijuana, period, to the mix, or decriminalization, that changes perhaps the position the government will take. It'll be interesting to see but meantime the courts have sided with Joe and Joe Anne public to decide or grow their own need be if they deem it the best method for them. Users for medicinal reasons will often have to experiment with different systems before finding the right delivery method, form, or dosage so leaving that up to a doctor to decide or a government distributor won't / doesn't work effectively is the argument. But again, legalization is a whole new ball of wax, and so if it's "legal", then it would be legal to grow anyway one might surmise - eliminating the need for state run and money collecting depots. But, again, that merges the two - recreational vs medical.


One can't argue it would need be regulated somewhat, and rules in place to protect children from access, including packaging forms that appear like cake, cookies, candies and such but in the end I believe a side by side model could work, where sales to minors and unlicensed transfers would still be an offense and in the case of sales to minors a serious one. You sell alcohol to a kid there are criminal charges - especially if that kid hurts someone. Same deal here. Do I think marijuana is a miracle cure all for everything out there? No. But it does work well for some specific illnesses...and not so well known is that certain forms do not use the psychoactive ingredient THC but separate it out, while other forms can turn it inactive unless heated.

John Lennon once met with PM Pierre Trudeau regarding marijuana

You can't deny that abuse of any mind altering source, be it prescribed painkillers or mind bending E won't have an effect, so marijuana is like anything in that way. If you don't abuse it and / or use as directed you'll likely be fine..and so will society.

George Chuvalo, Canada's one time Heavy Weight Boxing champ lost two sons to drug overdoses. His son always told his dad to tell them the gateway drug was tobacco,

" Nicotine from a tobacco cigarette is often the first addictive poison a young person will introduce to their bodies" 

The next is often alcohol...Enough said about the problems associated with alcohol, and we regulate all those. Let's not kid ourselves here, almost anyone of us could find some pot if we wanted so this will just relieve some of the tension for the casual user with an option now to buy "legally", but don't think for a minute it will eliminate the street trade because of it. That's a "pipe" dream.

Criminal Minds

One last thought...With crime on the definite increase in and around the GTA and York Region, much of which seem desperation crimes - property crimes and crimes involving drugs led by addictions to young people caught up in a vicious cycle that almost always ends with a tragedy, something needs done. It could be  a home invasion, a drunk driver death, their own death, overdose, loss of all friends and family and connection to society and then...

How can we stop such cycles? We can just jail them as we do, or have an option to treat the root cause for some. Treat the root - Dug / alcohol addictions, to targeted young men and women, who, instead of being sentenced to a life of a recurring cycle, would like an opportunity to be sentenced to an intense, locked - in rehab for a period of time without getting a lifelong criminal record should they finish, including having ongoing check-ins and supports while moving back into the / a community. And offer

This needs to be offered before they elevate to those more serious criminal offenses from where there is no turning back. It could be made offered to mostly entry level "first timer" conviction types to those deemed sincere about wanting to make change.

Whether the addiction be for a physically addictive one, alcohol or even marijuana users if they are fully dependent to get by day to day but not for medical reasons and want to regain control of their lives as an option instead of jail, it should be offered. Otherwise disillusioned drug addicts and its web that pulls them in and holds them there. And the crime that goes with it will continue to grow bigger.

Tom Pearson

Newmarket Legion more than Military Show

If you're like most Canadians you likely think of your war vets once a year during Remembrance Day, perhaps even attending a parade or a Remembrance ceremony and think that is doing enough. And it may very well be for some, but for local Canadian Legions, such as Newmarket's Legion, it is a year long effort in supporting the community through efforts like youth through cadets or annual sports events and veterans support efforts. And none of any poppy money can be used to help pay run each legion's operations costs as those funds are earmarked, so that can be a struggle.

There are a few old misconceptions about local legions to dispel. Firstly, although originally formed as a support to the families of those in combat, modern times allow for those not connected through family to become members. In other words, you can be a sort of repatriate still for your country, without having been or had family in the war. And it's only $50 to join.

Legion's support cadets

Recently Newmarket's chapter, branch 426 of the Royal Canadian Legion,  celebrated 50 years of sponsoring the local annual house-league ice hockey tournament this past March Break, a tournament I myself played in as a kid, with our Aurora based team going undefeated and winning it. It was a life changing sense of pride at that time as I recall and our team even got jackets that we wore with beaming pride, an undefeated team through all exhibition matches and then tourney winners. I never forgot it - yet had no idea the Legion were sponsors. Events like this allow kids who might not ever play in such a format a chance to do so, giving them more confidence and esteem moving forward. Ironically it ran at the same time as the Friendly Neighbourhood Road hockey tourney I started and would go on to run for 10 years, offering kids free play, meals, entertainment and a leadership cash award. To a degree, starting that event was inspired by that house league tourney. So you see, these community supports do help shape young / future minds and actions!

A couple weeks back, I was contacted buy a member of the local chapter's executive, interested to purchase a copy of the video I'd produced of the Remembrance Day parade and ceremony. After meeting, the gentleman asked about cost. What does one charge a legion who supports those who have and are fighting to keep this country safe? My mother said charge them nothing. Her dad was a cook in WW1, having lost an eye prior to combat and unable to be a fighting soldier.

Newmarket History memorabilia adorns the walls

Then I heard about the leaky roof they have that is more than a simple fix, and that Raise the Roof funds are in dire need to make renovations to it before it affects other parts of the aging structure, an original mess area for soldiers back in the day. That's when I also learned poppy money received is not allowed for such costs - used only for vets supports - and that they must find ways to raise the $ on their own. In recent years there may have been a decline in membership numbers, however part of that " problem" is a lack of knowledge about what a legion does, how valuable they are, and how rewarding being a member can be.

Various nights to attract members in more often are held, and FRIDAY nights ANYONE can come check out the cheap beer and dinner special ( usually under $8!) and meet some of those unique members of your history and other friendly regulars at the legion. Newmarket's Legion, typical of many, sports war medals displays and photos and memorabilia throughout it's front bar & hall with darts and billiards rooms as well as an additional fully functional hall complete with full kitchen - tables, chairs, stage and projector unit also available for public rentals at more than competitive rates.The Newmarket Legion also has some cool activities available like snooker and darts and tourneys too, with euchre being the latest addition to the fun stuff they have going on.

Raise the Roof - Newmarket Legion Military Show

Buy, Sell, Trade - One Show Only! - $5 Entry -

Long way to go to save the roof

Sunday April 17, 2016, 8am - 1pm, the Newmarket Legion Hall at 707 Srigley St features Military Antiques and Accessories. Door and table proceeds to the Newmarket Legion. Kids / Ladies free.

For more info on the Military show contact armystuffguy@hotmail.com

Sounds like a blast! An historic one! At any rate certainly an educational and fun way to explore our militia whilst supporting a great community asset, your local legion or better yet, purchase a $50 membership.

I think that is what I shall ask for for my payment, an entry into a sacred group of patriots, proud of their country and those who would protect her. That, and perhaps host a special showing of TPE's best Troops footage, including entertainers, like an old time variety show, through an evening of memory lane, good food and great Canadian beverages. Cheers!

TP over and out!

Hey...Tom Pearson!!!???

Snacks come out!

Hall For Rent

State of the art kitchen for catering / hall rentals

View from your Legion

TPE file photo - 2016 reminder of our active troops, always in danger