About 1,500 people march in 100th anniversary of Warriors' Day Parade at CNE

About 1,500 people marched through the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto on Saturday to honour the Canadian Armed Forces.

The 100th anniversary of the Warriors' Day Parade drew veterans, current members of the military, representatives of Royal Canadian Legions and members of the U.S. military. There were about 25 marching bands. Hundreds of people at the CNE lined the route.

"It was quite a spectacle," said John Hymers, a volunteer for the Warriors' Day Parade Council.

"This parade means a lot to a lot of people. It's a way to acknowledge and remember those who served in the Canadian Armed Forces, those who didn't come home, and those still serving."

It was the first time since 2019 that the parade was held at the CNE due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Technically, the 100th anniversary was set to take place in 2021, but organizers decided to celebrate the milestone this year. According to one poster advertising the parade, the pandemic wasn't the first time the parade skipped a year. There were cancellations during the Second World War and the 2003 blackout.

Participants marched through the Princes' Gates, along Princes' Boulevard in front of the Enercare Centre, and then finished by making their way close to BMO Field.

On its website, the council says: "The Warriors' Day Parade is a unique and spectacular event that includes the colour, sound and traditions of our Regiments and Squadrons as well as the recognition of those who served and those who serve today.

"Since 1921, the Parade has provided an opportunity to celebrate our military victories. For participants and spectators, it is also an opportunity to show deep appreciation for the priceless gift of freedom given to us by our Veterans and those brave women and men presently serving in the Canadian Forces."

For Fraser McKee, 97, a veteran who served in the Second World War, the parade is a good way for the public to learn about the military.

McKee joined the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve, a naval reserve force in the Canadian navy, in Toronto in 1943 as an seaman, stayed in the reserves after the war and retired as a navy commander in 1978.

"The important thing is to let people see all these people," he said before the event. 

"All these people are all going to be in the parade. They're all serving one way or another, or not all, but most of them in the military. And that's their dedication." 

McKee said he had an "very ordinary" experience in the war.