By: Sgt Al Kowalenko, OMC (Retd)
48th Veterans Services Coordinator
SUMMER ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS FOR 2025
Summer greetings to our 48th Highlanders of Canada veterans of all eras, Active Battalion members, and our Regimental Family.
Each Summer, our 48th veterans participate in two important parades that take place in July and August, as follows:
LANDING IN SICILY/PACHINO DAY PARADE – 82nd ANNIVERSARY Wednesday, July 10, 2025 @ 5:30 pm, Belleville Armouries
The Landing in Sicily/Pachino Day Parade is an annual event held in Belleville, Ontario, to recognize the Allied forces landing in Sicily on July 10, 1943, as part of “Operation Husky” and the start of the WWII Italian Campaign. The fighting lasted for two years throughout Italy culminating in an Allied victory in May, 1945.
The July 10th date is significant for the 48th Highlanders because our Regiment was deeply involved in the Campaign and won the majority of its 27 WWII battle honors during several major battles in Italy, all the while advancing north up the Italian boot towards northwest Europe and the Liberation of Holland. This year is the 82nd anniversary of the Landing in Sicily.
The WWII Italian Campaign was costly for the 90,000 Canadian troops who participated. There were a total of almost 6,000 Canadian soldiers killed and more than 20,000 wounded. The 48th Highlanders sustained losses of nearly 400 killed and more than 1,000 wounded as part of the First Canadian Infantry Division.
The key battle honors won in Italy by the 48th Highlanders and which are emblazoned on the Regiment’s colors include: Landing in Sicily, Assoro, Campobasso, Ortona, Liri Valley, Hitler Line, Gothic Line, Rimini Line, and the Lamone Crossing.
Hosting the Parade will be the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment (Belleville), along with participation by The Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) and the 48th Highlanders of Canada. All three Regiments landed together in Sicily in July, 1943, and have been honoring the Landing in Sicily for the eight decades since then.
For those 48th veterans and their families/friends (and Active Battalion members) who would like to march or participate in the Landing in Sicily/Pachino Day Parade, here are the details:
(NB – Timing changes for 2025 are in effect.)
Date: Thursday, July 10, 2025
Times: Dinner 1730 hrs (5:30 pm) + Parade/Service 1900 hrs (7:00 pm)
Location: Belleville Armouries, 187 Pinnacle Street, Belleville, Ontario
Directions From Toronto: Highway 401 East to North Front St exit Belleville, then south to Pinnacle St.
Dress Code for 48th Veterans Marching in the Parade: 48th badged glengarry, white short-sleeve dress shirt, grey slacks, black dress shoes. Medal ribbons (if you have them) to be worn above the left shirt pocket. (Note: Any 48th Active Battalion member who would like to participate in the parade with our veterans may appear in their CADPAT uniform.)
Dinner: This year the event will begin with a Dinner at 1730 hrs (5:30 pm) in the Armouries. It will be a traditional Italian dinner with spaghetti and meatballs, bread, wine and desserts. The cost of the dinner will be $20 per person and is open to all.
Parade: Veteran members of the 48th, Hasty Ps and RCR will form up inside the Armouries parade square at 1900 hrs (7:00 pm) and march outside to the cenotaph for a memorial service. (If inclement weather, the service will be held inside.)
Guests: All members of the 48th Regimental Family are welcome to attend the Parade and memorial service. Seating is available. Local free parking is plentiful near the Armouries location.
Transportation: Participants are responsible to provide their own transportation to Belleville. If you can assist with car-pooling that would be appreciated.
WARRIORS’ DAY PARADE104th ANNUAL Saturday, August 16, 2025 @ 10:30 am Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), Toronto
This year, the Warriors’ Day Parade will celebrate its 104th Anniversary. The Parade began at Toronto’s CNE in 1921, three years after the end of WWI. It is the largest parade for CAF veterans in Canada with several thousands of participants and spectators each year.
Our parade contingent will again be led by our 48th Drill Team, a guard commander, and the 48th Pipes and Drums. We are looking for a good turnout of our 48th veterans to help support the event and keep our Regimental Colors flying.
This year the Parade will be commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the end of WWII and the Liberation of The Netherlands. (NB – Our 48th Active Battalion members will be marching as part of the 32 Brigade contingent.)
For those 48th veterans who would like to march in the Warriors Day Parade, here are the details:
Date: Saturday, August 16, 2025 Time: 1030-1200 hrs
Location: Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), Toronto, across from Fort York Armoury, 660 Fleet Street (form up in parking lot by Princes Gates, CNE, by 1015 hrs)
Dress Code for 48th Veterans Marching in the Parade: 48th badged glengarry, white short-sleeved dress shirt, grey slacks, black dress shoes. Medal ribbons (if you have them) to be worn above the left shirt pocket.
Guests: All members of the 48th Regimental Family are welcome to attend the parade. Admission to the CNE on August 16th is free to all Canadian Forces (Regular and Reserves) current and past members. You must show your CF identification (Active or Veteran) card to gain free admission to the CNE. If you don’t have an ID card, you may also use your CF Release Certificate.
Parking: There is also free parking for veterans at the CNE underground lot by the Princes Gates (north side underground entrance).
Viewing Stand: Located just inside the Princes Gates, there is a large, multi-tier viewing stand for those who would like to see the Parade at a better vantage point.
Post Parade: Various Messes will be open at Fort York Armoury for post-parade participants and guests. Drinks, sandwiches and light snacks will be available for purchase.
More information on the Warriors’ Day Parade may be obtained on their official website at http://www.thewarriorsdayparade.ca/
48th VETERANS AT HOLTEN CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY – MAY, 2025
This past May, a large group of our 48th Highlanders veterans gathered at Holten Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the WWII Liberation of the Netherlands in 1945 and to pay tribute to our 48th WWII veterans who died in service.
This 48th gathering was part of the celebrations in Holland from May 2-6 which included events such as a Massed Band Tattoo, Apeldoorn Liberation Parade, a Liberation concert, the Holten Cemetery ceremonies, Apeldoorn Remembrance Ceremonies, Wageningen Liberation Parade, and Wilp Battlefield Tours. It was a historic trip for the 100+ 48thHighlanders contingent which included Active Battalion soldiers, veterans, and members of the Regimental Family.
Buried at the Holten Cemetery are nearly 1,400 Canadian soldiers who died during the Liberation of The Netherlands in March/April, 1945. A total or 20 members of the 48th Highlanders are also buried at the Cemetery, including our wartime CO, LCol Donald Mackenzie.
The gathering of 48th veterans in Holten was particularly symbolic this year as there are currently no 48th WWII veterans alive to participate in Liberation celebrations going forward, The next generation of 48th veterans are now taking up the torch of remembrance and keeping the memory of our WWII veterans alive.
Thank you to all our 48th veterans who participated at the 2025 Holten ceremonies. It was an important and meaningful day in the history of our Regiment and symbolized our Regimental motto “Dileas Gu Brath”.
Further coverage of the trip to Holland will be included the upcoming Falcon, an email will be sent out again when the next Falcon has been published.
VETERANS AFFAIRS CANADA (VAC) - UPDATE
The Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) website provides information on a number of areas related to support of our Regular Force and Reserve veterans, as well as Canadian military history topics of interest.
VAC agents are available to answer your questions during regular business hours at 1-866-522-2122. There is also a 24-hour emergency line for veterans requiring counselling with a Mental Health Professional at 1-800-268-7708.
If you wish to set up a VAC account with an agent regarding disability support, please remember to have your military service number and CF documentation available.
VAC VETERAN DEFINITION
“A veteran is any former member of Canadian Armed Forces (Regular or Reserves) who successfully underwent basic training and was honorably discharged.”
NOTE: If you have completed your CAF service and have sustained an injury during duty, you may be qualified for disability benefits. Contact our 48th Veterans Services Team for more information or to discuss your options.
SUNNYBROOK VETERANS CENTRE - TORONTO
At present, the 48th Highlanders have two veterans who are now long term residents of the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre in Toronto:
Sgt Oswald Reece, CD (Retd) has been a resident since last September and is located in Room 8 at K2W wing. He welcomes visitors and can be reached at 647-381-4125 to arrange a time. As well, Ozzie would like to see 48th veterans from his era (1975-2008) to share stories and talk old times.
Capt Bruce Beaton, CD (Retd) has been a resident at Sunnybrook for several years. He was recently relocated to Room 74 at L2 wing. Visits for Bruce are limited. Please contact our Veterans Services Team for more information.
MILITARY DISCOUNTS FOR 48th VETERANS
Further to our section regarding Military Discounts in our Veterans Services Team Blog #10 (April/May 2025), we have identified a website that provides an extensive list of discounts for veterans and active service members across Canada.
The site is titled: “Canadian Military & Veterans Discount Guide: The Ultimate List” (Dealhack Guides).
You can access the Guide at the following internet address:
There are literally scores of places that now accept veterans’ cards for discounts. Wherever you go, always to remember to check if the establishment recognizes military discounts. It may save you hundreds of dollars per year!!
CALENDAR OF UPCOMING
EVENTS IN 2025
FOR 48TH VETERANS AND
REGIMENTAL FAMILY MEMBERS
- July 10: “WWII Landing in Sicily/Pachino Day Parade” at Belleville Armouries
- July 18-20: Orillia Scottish Festival, Orillia, Ontario
- August 16: Warriors Day Parade (CNE, Toronto)
- October: 48th WO/Sgts Mess Dinner (Moss Park Armoury) (NB – Limited to past and present WOs and Sgts) NB- Date to be confirmed
- November 8: 48th Mount Pleasant Remembrance Parade and Luncheon
- November 9: Remembrance Day Parade (48th Regimental Monument, Queen’s Park)
- November 11: Remembrance Day (Tuesday) –Toronto City Hall Service (Optional)
- May 2026 (Tentative): 48th Highlanders 135th Anniversary Celebrations, Toronto. (More details to follow later this year. Open to all 48th past and serving members.)
If you have other 48th events to publicize this year, please forward the information and we will have it distributed through the 48th Regimental Association.
Special Note: The 48th Highlanders website at www.48thhighlanders.ca has now added a new tab “Calendar” to the top of the Home Page. Please consult it for further information on the dates and events listed during the year. Additional dates and amendments may be submitted to Sgt Adam Bernard, CD (Retd), Webmaster, at email webmaster@48thHighlanders.ca.
THE 48th HIGHLANDERS WEBSITE & 48th REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION
Our 48th veterans should be aware that our Regiment maintains an active website at www.48thhighlanders.ca. The site contains full information about the Active Battalion as well as various sections for Veterans Services, 48th Association, Museum, and History/Traditions.
If you haven’t already done so, you can sign up on the website as member of the 48th Highlanders Regimental Association. You will then be included in the Association’s database to receive regular emails of interest to the 48thRegimental Family. Membership is free.
THE FALCON – NEXT ISSUE – JULY 2025
The next issue of The Falcon will be published in July, 2025, and include coverage of the recent 2024-25 training year for the Active Battalion as well as various events that our 48th veterans participated in during the past year, particularly the trip to Holland in May, 2025.
THE 48th HIGHLANDERS MUSEUM
The 48th Highlanders Museum is located in the lower level of St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church (King & Simco Sts, Toronto). The Museum is one of the best Regimental Museums in the country and has hundreds of artifacts from the founding of the Regiment in 1981 to the present day.
Museum hours are Wednesday and Thursdays, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and admission is free. It is an excellent historical resource and well worth a visit for persons of all ages.
More information on the Museum can be obtained at the 48th Museum website at this link: https://museum.48thhighlanders.ca
THE 15TH BATTALION, CANADIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE WEBSITE
48th VETERANS SERVICES TEAM INFORMATION CONTACT:
The 48th Veterans Services Team is part of the 48th Highlanders Regimental Association. It is a group of dedicated volunteers who offer their services free of charge to our veterans.
Key Information Contact:
Sgt Al Kowalenko, OMC (Retd), 48th Veterans Services Coordinator
Email: ursa77@rogers.com,
Cell: 416-219-4967 (Message service available 24/7)
Web: www.48thhighlanders.ca/veteransservices
(Note: The Veterans Services Team Blog #1 on the 48th website contains details of the various areas we help veterans and their families. All previous blogs published since March, 2021, are now available on the site as well. )
There are a number of volunteers in our Veterans Services Team network who are available to help you. They are all 48thveterans who can discuss veterans’ issues and ways to obtain support.
Please call or email us if you have questions about VAC applications, injury benefits, government veterans’ services programs or 48th veterans’ events for 2025.
We will do our best to assist you!
HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY SUMMER!
DILEAS
GU
BRATH
