Angie Gualtieri holds a book in her hands. Tales of Todmorden Veterans by Jack Aldred. It’s obvious this book means a lot to her.
Gualtieri recalls when the roof at her Royal Canadian Legion Todmorden, Branch 10, needed fixing. The branch couldn’t afford to fix it. Jack Aldred, a well-loved member of the branch, stepped up. Proceeds from Aldred’s helped raise money for the roof repairs.
“That’s who (Jack) was,” Gualtieri said. “A great man.”
The intersection of Carlaw and Mortimer avenues is safer because Jack Aldred cared enough about people to fight for a crosswalk. Aldred, 91, died at his apartment complex on Tuesday following a heart attack. Mary Fragedakis, councillor for Ward 29, (Toronto-Danforth) recognized Aldred’s community service. “He is a great example of civic engagement,” she said. “He gave us all a sense of the problem at the intersection and how it impacts the kids.”
Jack Aldred, 89, made news across Canada just a month ago, when he said he would march in a Canada Day parade alongside other veterans from the Todmorden legion branch in his old uniform — navy regulations notwithstanding.
Last night, Toronto’s city council approved the request for a pedestrian crossover at the corner of Mortimer and Carlaw avenues. The intersection in East York will now have overhead lights installed. Students from Centennial College’s East York campus, Chester Elementary School and Westwood Middle School cross there frequently.
The councillor for Ward 29 has learned that a petition for a designated crosswalk at a busy intersection in East York may have fallen short.