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From: "rmyankaussie" <>
Subject: Re:Re:[WarBrides] Year of the War bride in Ontario
Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2006 13:16:37 EDT


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-------------------------------------------------------------- Here are the Hansard minutes from the Ontario Legislative Assembly when they declared it Year of the War Bride in Ontario.

"YEAR OF THE WAR BRIDE

Hon. James J. Bradley (Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for seniors, Government House Leader): We are joined today in the gallery by a very special group of women and one man who have contributed much to this province and who have served as a model of courage and determination. I speak of Ontario's war brides, more than 100 of whom are with us today to commemorate the 60th anniversary --

Applause.

Hon. Mr. Bradley: The war brides can see how much affection there is for them among all members of the Legislature, and how happy we are to have them here today. I'm speaking of more than 100 who are with us today to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the war brides' arrival in Canada.

As members may be aware, approximately 48,000 women married Canadian soldiers overseas during the Second World War. The story of their subsequent immigration to Canada during and following the war has become part of the Canadian fabric. They arrived from the United Kingdom and many other countries on the European continent. They left their homes, families and friends and set out to start a new life many thousands of miles across the ocean.

We can only imagine what a young woman of 19 or 20 must have thought as she made that crossing, often with a child, a young child, wondering what kind of life, what kind of future she would find here. Nor can we imagine the enormous adjustments these remarkable women had to make on their arrival -- adjustment to a new marriage and family, to a new culture and unfamiliar surroundings and in some cases to a new language, but in all cases to a place very different from the one they had left behind.

Yet these women prevailed, and they went on to contribute to every facet of Ontario life. Many were volunteers. Many played a vital role in our communities. Many made their mark in business, the professions and public service. Equally important, these women left a legacy carried on by families in every part of the province for whom the story of the war brides has become their own story. They did it all and they did it well, and they did it with grace and courage.

It is my privilege to declare 2006 the Year of the War Bride in Ontario. We acknowledge with gratitude the spirit and courage of the remarkable women who are with us today and the many thousands of others who have contributed so much to our families, our communities and our way of life. Thank you.

YEAR OF THE WAR BRIDE

Mr. Cameron Jackson (Burlington): On behalf of my leader, John Tory, and our caucus, I want to join all members in recognizing this, the Year of the War Bride.

I can attest, as I've said on many occasions, as the son of a veteran in a family who sent seven members of their family overseas, and one of my uncles came back with a war bride. She happened to be from Germany, so he actually married a German war bride. When I was very young, we had a very distinct appreciation. On a personal note, I'm sort of glad, because I'm very fond of my mother, that my dad didn't come home with a war bride and went on --

Interjections.

Mr. Jackson: She would have been my mother, I know, but I doubt we were going to find someone overseas willing to bring 11 children into the family, which is my mother's legacy.

I also want to mention to members that there is a gravesite at Mount Hope airport, and that gravesite has the grave markers of about a dozen or so British airmen who came to Canada, who trained here and t

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