Vets bring permanent wartime look to East York
A former mayor of East York says the Second World War and Canadian vets have left a lasting impression on his community.
Part way through the 1939-1945 war, the Canadian Government faced the task of moving soldiers back into civilian life when hostilities ended. To ease the transition, Parliament passed the Veterans’ Land Act in 1942 to encourage veterans to purchase land and houses throughout Canada.
Alan Redway, the former mayor of East York, believes the Act helped shape East York into a community that relied on veterans for growth.
“After the First World War, there were veterans who built houses in the southeast corner of East York,” he said.
