ORVILLE HAND

1918-2009

Born and raised in Bradford, Mr. Hand was well known as the namesake of the Bradford Legion, Branch 521, but he is also fondly remembered by the many he touched during his lifetime.

During his teen years, he worked at Hunt & Stephenson Bakery, where he rolled dough and braved storms to deliver hot cross buns, before going to work at the hockey stick factory in 1937, where he was the only employee allowed to drive the boss’ Cadillac.

Three years later, he travelled to Fort Erie where he worked at the Fleet Aircraft Centre before joining the Royal Canadian Air Force on Oct. 3, 1941.

During the Second World War, Mr. Hand was stationed in Trenton, Ont., Davidson, Sask. and Agnes, Ont., before being sent overseas in 1942, when he became an ambulance driver in Topcliffe, England. He returned home to Bradford on April 2, 1945, just in time to see his best friend, Gordon Church, get married on April 4 and attend a dance in Newton Robinson. That’s where Mr. Hand met Helen Noble, to whom he was married on Oct. 30, 1946.

The two bought a house together in Bradford, 1947 and in 1948, Mr. Hand opened the Imperial Gas station on Barrie Street in Bradford, which he ran until 1952. The following year, he built Hand’s Garage and opened a Sunoco Station on Church Street, which he ran for 19 years. “He was a great mechanic. We always remarked to each other, we’re happy to be here,” Bradford-West Gwillimbury Deputy Mayor Dennis Roughley said.

A community-oriented man, Mr. Hand donated land to the Legion and has held mortgages for the organization in its expansion of the building over the years.

He is one of the co-founding members who built the Bradford Legion Hall in 1950, where he was always very active and served as President and Second Vice-President for a number of years. He served as Poppy Chairperson for more than 50 years and never missed a parade or function that required him to get dressed in uniform and march. He also served as a Bradford volunteer firefighter for years, from 1948 to 1988.

Continuing to build a Legacy

We do our part to be stewards of history, and our heritage…

Established in 1950, the Bradford Legion became part of a national network of over 1,400 branches across Canada, dedicated to honoring and preserving the legacy of our local and national heritage. The Bradford Legion’s namesake is named in tribute to Orville Hand.

Since its founding in 1926, the Royal Canadian Legion has remained steadfast in its mission to support Veterans, actively serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces and the RCMP, as well as their families, through advocacy, remembrance, and community service.

Remembrance  

We ensure that the tradition of honouring all those who served and sacrificed for our country continues on with reverence:

  • The National Remembrance Day service

  • Community Remembrance services and commemoration events

  • The maintenance of the local cenotaph and memorials to honour the fallen

  • The annual Poppy campaign

Aboriginal Canadians have been part of our proud military history for over 200 years.

During the War of 1812, they were vital allies in the protection of Canada, helping protect the citizens of this emerging country from attacks and invasions of Americans. Since then, thousands served bravely in both World Wars, the Korean War and Afghanistan War. Indigenous Canadians continue to be a valuable part of our Canadian Armed Forced and UN Peacekeepers today. 

Some of these Indigenous Veterans are some of the highest decorated soldiers, aviators and sailors in our military history. Sergeant Tommy Prince was a member of 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry at Kapyong, and was one of the most decorated aboriginal soldiers in Canada. 

Aboriginal Veterans Day was established in Manitoba in 1994 and has since spread across the country to the other provinces and has been renamed National Aboriginal Veterans Day, recognized annually on Nov. 8. It’s a day to recognize and acknowledge the many contributions and sacrifices of Indigenous not only to Canada’s war efforts but to its peacekeeping reputation.

Today, about 3.5 per cent of the Canadian Armed Forces is of First Nation descent, representing many distinct cultures. They continue to make Canada proud through their service at home and abroad. We should honour their contributions and of those before them. 

In this day and age of reconciliation, acknowledging Indigenous roles in the protection of Canada will help other citizens understand what true reconciliation means to the country as a whole. We must never forget the sacrifices and accomplishments of Indigenous Veterans, especially as we move forward in our journey of healing, reconciliation and a renewed relationship between Canada and its First Nations peoples.

Nov. 8 is about making efforts to better understand the role Indigenous Veterans have played in Canada and expressing our heartfelt gratitude. Ceremonies are held across Canada to mark this day, and Canadians across the country should pause for a minute or two to honour our Indigenous Veterans

On behalf of the Royal Canadian Legion and Ontario Command we want to thank all Indigenous Canadians past and present for their services and sacrifices.

Vimy Ridge Day

Vimy Ridge Day is a day to commemorate the deaths and casualties of members of the Canadian Corps in the Battle of Vimy Ridge, which took place during the First World War. The holiday has been observed annually on 9 April since 2003. It is a non-statutory observance.