Local First Responder Playing In Highway Of Heroes Hockey Game Against Leafs Alumni

Pete Fisher
5 years ago
• Categories: Community, Local

There will be a local twist to the Highway of Heroes Hockey game taking place at the Leon’s Centre in Kingston on November 2, 2019 at 1 p.m.

Cobourg firefighter Chris Post who is a 23-year veteran of the fire service will be suiting up for the Military Veterans and Civilian First Responders team.

The primary focus of The Highway of Heroes Hockey Game benefiting Kingston 4 Paws Service Dogs is Mental Health for Military, Veterans and First Responders and without the extraordinary support from Anne Henderson this event would not be possible.

All around the concourse of the Leon’s Center there will be numerous Organizations dedicated to supporting Military members, Veterans and First Responders.

Cobourg firefighter Chris Post is the representing Cobourg Fire Department and is the only emergency responder from Northumberland County taking part in the game which features a team made up of soldiers, veterans and civilian first responders battling it out against Toronto Maple Leafs Alumni.

Post has been a firefighter for 23-years with Cobourg Fire Department.

“I’m honoured to represent the Cobourg fire department at the Highway of Heroes Hockey game. “As a member of the fire department we’ve stood many times on bridges overlooking the Highway as a fallen heroes and their families pass by Cobourg,” said Post.

“To be on a team with soldiers and veterans is something I’m very much looking forward too.”

Anne Henderson is the daughter of the late William James Henderson and the Highway of Heroes Hockey Game is being held in his honour. The Honourable Judge William James Henderson was a three-term Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands, a former Ontario Supreme Court Justice, a renowned philanthropist, an advisor to politicians and a decorated War Veteran. Judge Henderson enlisted in the Canadian Forces in 1939, transferred to the Royal Canadian Corps of Signalers in 1942. He served in England, Italy, France, Belgium, Germany and Holland as an Intelligence Officer. He was injured in the war, underwent extensive surgery and was discharged in 1946, but served in the Canadian Army Reserves until 1952. Among his numerous honours, Judge Henderson was most proud of those associated with Military service. While his official service ended in 1952, his loyalty to the military did not end. Years after he left the Canadian Armed Forces, Judge Henderson, by then a member of the provincial legislature, fought for Veterans, fought for the Legion, and fought for the Canadian Armed Forces. In the 1990s, he supported the Royal Canadian Legion’s appeal for pension increases, and he was the moving force behind the Military Communications and Electronics Museum, Canadian Forces Base Kingston, paying tribute to our Signalers. Judge Henderson known as the Founder of Amherstview, passed away on May 15 2006. He is admired and deeply respected for the service he gave our country, our Canadian Armed Forces and our future.

In November 2016, Corporal Nick Kerr, Master Corporal (retired) Collin Fitzgerald and Kerri Tadeu adopted a 1.18 kilometer stretch of the Highway of Heroes in Grafton in honour of Tadeu’s friend Major Michelle Knight Mendes who was the 118th soldier carried home from the Afghanistan War. Shortly after, the trio adopted the entire 344 kilometers of the Highway of Heroes (172 km East and 172 km West) as an initiative to combat the epidemic of suicide amongst Military, Veterans and First Responders by bringing the Veteran Community together and cleaning a sacred stretch of Canadian soil where 158 soldiers from the Afghanistan War were repatriated home and moving their pain into purpose. Their adoption is rooted 95% in Mental Health and 5% in garbage collection.

In their third year of cleaning the Highway of Heroes twice a year- weeks leading up to National Day of Honour on May 9 and weeks leading up to Remembrance Day on November 11, close to 1250 bags of garbage has been collected, $658 has been donated to MADD Canada from returning the empty alcohol containers they collect to the beer store and between Project Trauma Support and To The Stan & Back over $7,000 has been donated to these two charities under the Highway of Heroes Adoption secondary to Cobourg resident, the Highway of Heroes Earth Angel, Lorna Dickson’s Acts of Remembrance that have had a far reaching ripple effect in the Veteran Community. Military, Veterans, First Responders, Families of the Fallen Soldiers and people who care about these people have travelled as far away as Montreal, Cornwall, Ottawa, Kingston, Smith Falls, Plattsville and Guelph to clean the Highway of Heroes that stretches from Trenton to Keele Street in Toronto.

Port Hope resident, Silver Cross mother Anna Loveman, The Canadian Heroes Foundation Volunteer Director will be dropping the puck with families of the Fallen Soldiers from the Afghanistan War.

The Highway of Heroes Adoption Four One Hundred & Fifty Eight in Honour of Major Michelle Knight Mendes Memorial will be on display. The Highway of Heroes Memorial globe created by metal artist Shawn Donnan and Kelly Baldock tells the grassroots story of how ordinary Canadians stood together in solidarity on the bridges from Trenton to Keele Street in Toronto to share in the Nations grief when Canada’s sons and daughters were carried home from Afghanistan. Corporal Nick Kerr, Master Corporal (retired) Collin Fitzgerald and Kerri Tadeu created The Highway of Heroes Memorial Globe to educate the general public about the Service and Sacrifices of Canadian service men and women.

The Inaugural 2019 Highway of Heroes Hockey Team made up of Military, Veterans and First Responders playing against the Toronto Maple Leaf Alumni in Memory of Grafton’s Major Michelle Knight Mendes on the 10th year after her passing include:

BALTZER, David- Veteran
BRYDGES, Jeff- First Responder
CAWLEY, James- Veteran (Team Captain)
COMEAU, Chris- Canadian Armed Forces (Assistant Captain)
EVANS, Eric- Veteran
FITZGERALD, Collin- Veteran
GARLOUGH, Nicole- Canadian Armed Forces
GERMAIN, Jessie Canadian Armed Forces
GILLOTT, Mark- First Responder
HOUSE, Matt- Canadian Armed Forces (Assistant Coach)
ISBISTER, Ryan- Veteran- Goalie
JOBIN, Stephane- Veteran
KELLAR, Eric- First Responder- Goalie
MACDONALD, Monty- Canadian Armed Forces
McARTHUR, Jay- Veteran
MORIN, Christine- Veteran (Assistant Captain)
PETNEY, Bill- Veteran (Coach)
POST, Chris- First Responder
RICHARD, Mike- Canadian Armed Forces
ROULEAU, Pat- Canadian Armed Forces
RUSTE NBURG, Melanie- Canadian Armed Forces
SIOPKAS, Chris- First Responder – Goalie
Playing on the Toronto Maple Leaf Alumni Team:
BAIRD, Rob- First Responder
GILCHRIST, Derek- Canadian Armed Forces
DAWE, Lucas
McCAULEY, Renn

At the end of the first period a family focused Jr. Highway of Heroes Hockey Team will play against the Toronto Maple Leaf Alumni. The Jr. Team is made up of Military, Veterans and First Responders children.

The doors open at 12: 00 p.m. The event is open to the public and tickets cost $10.00 plus service charges and fees. There is a VIP meet and greet with food and beverages between 11:00 -12:00 p.m. Doors open at 10:45 a.m. for VIP guests. Cost will be $100.00 per person with Early Bird Price is $75.00 until September 2 2019.

When one member of the family serves, the entire family serves and as token of appreciation for their service, Military, Veterans, First Responders and their family members can contact HOH2019@cogeco.ca to be placed on a list for complimentary tickets. Complimentary tickets will be available for pick up in Cobourg on Monday October 7 2019 between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. at the Chris Garrett Park and in Kingston on Sunday October 6 2019 between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. at Lake Ontario Park.