05/23/2026
The following very nice article was written up by Al Thomas of the Toronto Fire Service. This article appeared in the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters' Association's magazine, Firewatch.
The CGWS is very proud to partner up with the Toronto Fire Service and the Toronto Fire War Vets.
Ghosts of The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF)
A few weeks before last years Remembrance Day activities, which were numerous, we were contacted by the Canadian Great War Society. The Project was introduced to us as The Ghosts of the CEF. The contact information came with much support from a few others in our social circles, including our own Glenn Kerr and his Western Front Association, so it was something that looked interesting. It took us a while to figure out the big picture, from all the requests and all the project interpretations from our colleagues.
First some background. The Canadian Great War Society (CGWS) is a non-profit historical living history / ceremonial preservation organization, dedicated to remembering and educating the public about the Canadian soldiers of the First World War. The group was founded in 1997 by directors Dave Webb, Robert Stewart and Tim Gillies. The CGWS is operated from Thamesville, Ontario. One of the many interesting things about this group, is their “back yard”. They have constructed a 150-foot First World War British military trench. This site serves as a hands-on educational resource for local youth groups and has been used as a location for several movie productions, including the short film The Unknown Soldier. Further, they maintain a group of reenactors which emulate infantry and mounted cavalry sections.
The event itself, as stated above, came together early last November. The GCWS partnered with the 48th Highlanders, the Toronto Police Military Veterans Association (TPS-MVA), and now us, The Toronto Firefighters War Veterans Association (TFFWVA), for an event called the Ghosts of the CEF. In this project, reenactors portray specific Canadian soldiers killed in WW-1. For those who have been following us, you will be aware of our “Operation Never Forgotten” Project. In that project, we have been documenting all of our War Veterans, which has reached 880, 330 of which served in the Great War. We were proud that we could showcase some of our own veterans.
The project involves the collected group of reenactors, dressed as period soldiers, to wander silently around several “Public Places” just to be “seen”. Each of the participants are selected from the above groups and each participant specifically portrays a WW-1 veteran also chosen from the attending organizations. The group travels on foot like soldiers do, and hand out cards, to the public detailing the soldiers' identities and resting places. In some cases, the curious will approach the group and ask questions, and in others the group will reach out, all the while, being filmed with the focus being on the group and the public reactions. The contrast between the group and present day is quite amazing to watch. After a period of time, then group moves on, as if on the battlefield, to the next location. The itinerary involved 3 Toronto locations.
It is our understanding that some of the initial impetus for this project’s inception was in a similar project created in the UK, for the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, in 1916, and was conducted the first time by Tim and the GCWS, 01 July 2016. The UK project was captured in a number of YouTube segments with the same name and can be readily searched here:
( https://youtu.be/cfkBV80npY8?si=L4ES6ep2ehCoUjlC - https://youtu.be/JDyqax78Z_M?si=uMf8kcdDR0V3mC6t)
The Ghosts Project actually took place here on Saturday the 8th of November. The TFFWVA were not able to attend because it coincided with the Inaugural Indigenous Veterans Day Ceremony held at Nathan Phillips Square. Our Colour Guard had already committed to attend, and we had a great turn out. The Annual Indigenous Veterans Day will fall of the Saturday before Remembrance Day and will be an annual event for our Association.
I was only able to catch up to the Group, after the event at the Royal Canadian Military Institute. There was a lunch held in the projects honour. It was graciously member sponsored and hosted by Jack Gin. It was here when the whole scope of the project had become evident to me, and I was given the opportunity to address those in attendance on behalf of the TFFWVA. I thanked them all, the organizers, and our gracious host. I told them how proud we were to participate and showcase some who had gone before us.
In conclusion, I must say that the above likely makes it look like our Organization were equal contributors. In fairness we were not, November is a very busy month for us, and we were slow in the engagement with the project. Kudos goes out to the participants who volunteered their day to support this event, some who travelled quite a distance. We were able to provide 6 veteran profiles, and some background support. This year we will be providing more support. We have been asked to provide another 6 Veteran Profiles, which are in process as we speak, and we will also provide 3 Firefighters to participate in the group itself. We also offer a shoutout to the Photographers whose pictures we used.
Please look for this project to appear in your local media this year, it will take place Saturday November 7, 2026, and will honour soldiers would were killed in 1916.
Alan Thomas CD.
President
Toronto Firefighters War Veterans Association
