SECRET TORONTO: Flight 621 in Toronto-Gore Township

Toronto-Gore Township, now Castlemore inclusive.

Really Brampton.

But back then, in 1970, this was known as Toronto-Gore.

AND THIS is where Air Canada Flight 621 crashed.

Archeological dig.

195 holes, just like this one, throughout the crash arena in 2006 yielded 90 human bone fragments.

So on one hand, we have developers that want to build right here. On the other hand we have a field that has crash victim's bones STILL in it.

What is Solomon, or anyone, to do?

Enter, into the fray, the illustrious City of Brampton.

"Guys if you want to build there…you gotta clean up the field, put a cemetery at the crash point and build a monument."

And that is exactly what they are going to do—

So what the Office of the Coroner could not do, what Air Canada could not do…the City of Brampton will make happen. The right thing will now be done!

Everyone connected with the this amazing reversal, those staff and those elected members from the City of Brampton…we, the Friends of Flight 621, salute your noble efforts to finally, finally, bring closure to this tragedy, and more recently the on-going travesty of the unburied flight victim's human remains.

Although 109 people died here on July 5, 1970…in an area that is home to almost 8 million Canadians…indeed, one quarter the population of our entire country, that beloved Canada…yet, so few actually know about the horrific crash and the location of the nearby, but mysterious, former crash site.

How is that?

Fast forward to 2010…everyone will know where it is, and all will be able to visit.

But why is the 621 crash site off our present radar, folks?

Air Canada…and…their corporate damage control team.

Remember, the Flight 621 relatives were promised a memorial on site by Air Canada. Back in 1970.

Air Canada later gave them one instead at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in midtown Toronto. Sure, a lot of famous Canadians have been laid to rest there. A prime minister or two. Notable musicians. War heroes. Why even the victims of the SS Noronic were buried there. But that's Toronto's other disaster. And yet this setting just wasn't right for the 621 families.

Too far from the actual site of the air disaster.

Much, too far.

However, there was something about the closeness of the crash site to Air Canada's Toronto hub that bothered the uppers (upper management of Air Canada). Remember the "uppers" made incredible decisions back then. Like in Cincinnati when that Air Canada DC-9 burned to the ground, right there on the runway. And additional Air Canada passengers died way back in the mid-80s.

The all-consuming fire had only just been contained by the Cincinnati Fire Department, on what was left of the DC-9, when the Fire Department regulars were suddenly bewildered by events that began unfolding right before their eyes. An unidentified vehicle, that obviously received airport clearance (the power of those AC uppers extends far) drove right up, alongside the just extinguished DC-9 tail. Now, before the firefighting team could voice disapproval, out poured mystery folk who immediately and with much fervor started painting white over the famous Air Canada logo, so prominent on the tail, in the airline's livery back then.

Damage control. Protect the brand. Mobilize the peons. Send the order down!

"Get that logo off the tail! At all costs." Sound of a phone slamming.

There may even be a "protect the brand" chant, that only the "uppers" know.

So the placement of the Flight 621 memorial in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery, where 55 passengers and crew were laid to rest, while generous back in 1970, was…remiss.

Not satisfactory.

Except to those AC uppers.

And through the years…the "621" families were ALWAYS ANGRY about that betrayal.

That failed Air Canada promise. The 621 families I met, inevitably, referred to it.

But in 2010…that will all change.

By the executive order of the City of Brampton.

Uppers vs. One-Uppers.

And those families will be able to go the 621 crash site themselves. And Air Canada can't stop the process, or the new memorial this time. Or the Flight 621 cemetery containing the remaining bone fragments that will also be ushered into existence.

The City of Brampton has decided.

So in 2010, at the 40th anniversary of the crash…there will be a new memorial right alongside a new cemetery. Since thousands of small bone fragments of their loved ones are still there and will be entombed in the new cemetery.

Then family members will be able to visit.

And so too, others moved by the disaster, now so long ago.

Family members then, won't need me to show them where the worst event in their lives happened. Although I was always ready to do that when asked.

Awkwardly.

And they will go there, next year. Some even for the first time.

In droves the families will go. Officially.

For closure. For solidarity.

To join prayerfully, and mystically with their departed ones. To say by their visit, by their presence, by the anguish in their souls…that we had to come here…because here…is where you left us ~

And we never got over it. Know this.

Never.

CALEDON HILLS ::: 1941 ::: RCAF Anson Crash

SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT in deteriorating weather conditions on November 13, 1941, RCAF Avro Anson W1672 with a training crew of five aboard slammed into Caledon Mountain…not far from the legendary Forks of the Credit.

The crew had lost their bearings.

The pilot thinking he was still near Hamilton, Ontario dropped to an elevation of 1200 feet above sea level, taking the Anson just below cloud cover when disaster struck. While that might have been a safe aerial height for RCAF Station: Mount Hope…it wasn't for Caledon Hills, Ontario.

Three British RAF navigators perished in the mishap.

One in the arms of a rescue worker, another was discovered dead after having crawled 200 feet from the wreckage, and the third later in hospital. Dennis Donahue, Denis Drayton and Reginald Gillman became the first training casualties of No. 33 RAF Navigation School based out of Hamilton, Ontario commonly known as YHM and Hamilton International Airport (hi). By the war's end there would be eleven others. They all rest in peace, nearby, at St. Paul's Glanford Anglican Church on the "Mountain".

Surprisingly the pilot and the wireless operator survived!

Take a second look at the Anson's nose will ya—

Miracle.

Majorie Cluff who resided two miles away on Highway #10, spotted the aircraft going down and alerted other locals. The wreck was found four hours later by Arthur Bracken, a Caledon farmer, who discovered the tragedy after hearing someone cry out. No lights around for miles, and brambles everywhere "in the hills" the aircraft was not an easy find.

Not even ten years after this crash, hockey legend Conn Smythe, owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs (1927 - 1961), and builder of Maple Leaf Gardens would buy 2,000 acres of Caledon land where he both lived and ran Smythe Racing Stables. Smythe and his son led the Leafs through their glory years and he also found time to breed his own horses and win the esteemed Queen's Plate twice! This former Anson crash site was located on his property and not far from his actual home.

(Photo by Ruth Braiden, courtesy of daughter, Urla Braiden and Fay McCrea of Caledon Village Heritage, Post-Production - Special Projects In Research)

Silence

Parents are channeling their kids these days…I'm see a lot of bettering of the intellect…but I'm not seeing a lot of bettering of their spirituality.

How many can appreciate the repose of soul, resignation and silence of Jesus that is illustrated by the great Ariel Agemian above.

A ancient mob cries,

"If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar; for everyone who makes himself a king sets himself against Caesar!"

That mob of 2,000 years ago takes many forms today.

Jesus, imprisoned then...and imprisoned now.

Silence, at so many levels, becomes the ultimate revolt against the vast climate of evil that surrounds us...and that Christian act of justified witholding disturbs the "peace" of the pagan.

The residents of the Secular City eventually come seeking affirmation from the City of God.

Of course, none is given.

At times, limited forms of affirmation may be given. For some of the actual good that is being done in that city.

But many times none is given. Just silence.

Ix-nays.

Now it should suprise no one that eventually that sort of milieu leads to reprisals against the City of God, by the secular crowd. Often violent.

Or in Canada...false Human Rights Tribunals that punish a person for publically living out his faith.

Whenever religion is supressed, like it is in North America, especially Christianity, look for the communist. Or the secular humanist. In a free society...they're always behind the scenes pushing their "neutral" atheistic agenda. And persecuting Christians along the way.

See folks, times haven't changed.

——————————————————————————————

MOSTLY CHRISTIANS struggle against personal sin, but every once and a while we have an enemy we can look right into the eyes. Fascists, Nazis, Communists, Islamists…Secular Humanists…

Oh…and someone once asked me how do you juggle Avro, the Arrow, the RCAF, Jesus and Catholicism?

Answer: I'm a complex and…complete person.

But aren't all these somewhat opposed to eachother?

Answer: Not in my world.





© Imitation of Christ, Thomas à Kempis, Confraternity of the Precious Blood
(Original artwork reworked, colourized, text and border added by me.)

STREETSVILLE ::: 1981

I'M FOR smaller schools. Large schools were created to produce winning football teams. They're a mistake. A child has no sense of individuality or sense of importance in a school that large.

Ross Perot, 1983


(Photo NOT mine…colourized B/W by me, however—)

Streetsville Cheerleaders on the run in 81'.

And Streetsville? Well, it was the just the right size for a high school.

Winter Returns…but will the RCAF?

Nope.

44 great and glorious years!

Then in 1968 comes the Canadian Armed Forces…and out goes the Canadian Navy, and the Canadian Army too. Trudeaupean flower-power initiatives based on European military models and recklessly Canadian tradition is replaced with Trudeau's vision… which, by the way, proved to be garbage.

However, if my political party were in power you know there'd be sweeping changes.

For starters AND overnight, the return of the RCAF, the RCN and the Canadian Army.

These divisions of our national defense would become heavily fortified. Did someone say…shopping spree?

Peacekeeping is useless…policing works best.

We need 9 new aircraft carriers, 1,200 Arrow Mark 7s (including the Mark 8 which is carrier-based) and 30, 000 UAVs. I don't know a damn thing about nuclear submarines, but three for every province and 5 for every Territory would be a healthy start.

And our new Coast Guard ships would look more like small battleships than the current anemic tugboat design.

YYZ perimeter lands would be immediately seized by MY Canadian government and a newer, more expansive Avro Canada would be re-established on the former site. Where do you think our new Arrows, UAVs, aircraft carriers and subs are going to come from?

Did someone say Northwest Passage? International waters?

I say, Canada's Internal Waters.

Did someone say bankruptcy…and bye, bye, GM Canada? Chrysler of Canada? Ford of Canada?

I say hello, Bombardier, Avro and hello, McLaughlin Automotive.

Anyways, its all contained in my political brief, "Outlines". So politically explosive…so fearlessly Canadian…it's not available to the general public at this time.

First, he's here. Then way over there.

Once…he ran right up to me!

I don't know how many photos I have of Seabiscuit (X marks the guy) running around the tarmac marshaling (signaling) the Lancaster.

On the face of the earth, there is not an aircraft marshaller (signaler) who takes his job more seriously than "Seabiscuit". He puts the Visual Docking Guidance System (VDGS) found at busier airports to shame.

Here, he hasn't started running yet but…he will—


But…will…our Lanc' even fly again?

If she does, it will be because of you and I.

New props cost $100, 000 CDN. SEE ENTRIES below to donate. Or please contact the museum at (905) 679-4183 to donate by phone.