Hundreds gather in T.O. for 'Red Friday' rally
CTV.ca News Staff

Hundreds of people gathered at Yonge-Dundas Square over the noon-hour Friday in a rally of support for Canadian troops in Afghanistan.

The gathering was a sea of red, as participants were asked to wear that specific colour.

Those who attended included families of soldiers currently serving in the war-torn country, as well as wounded troops who have returned from their tours of duty.

As the event was being held, news broke that another Canadian solder was killed Friday after stepping on a booby trap in southern Afghanistan.

Parents of fallen soldiers also attended the 'Red Friday' rally and delivered speeches.

The parents of Orillia's Mike McTeague, who was wounded in a suicide bomb strike that killed four Canadian soldiers on Sept. 18, also spoke.

His father, Sean, told CTV's Austin Delaney his son is still in the intensive care unit at Sunnybrook Hospital and is not well enough to watch the event on the television.

But Sean was excited to be a part of the rally.

"I'd just like to see a great turnout. Our members of the Canadian Armed Forces are part of our community, they serve us, just like the police, fire department, paramedics, doctors and nurses," he said.

"So it's an opportunity just to come out again to (praise) another special group of people who make Canada look good, and to come out and be proud, and say 'thank you.'"

Capt. Wayne Johnston said the troops are risking their lives and need to be supported.

"It makes me proud to be a Canadian, that people step up to the plate and show the soldiers that they're behind them, that they're behind the young men and women who are sacrificing their lives and their families every day," he said.

"I'm here today because I want peace in this country, and I want to make sure that it stays that way," another supporter said.

Ties, baseball hats and Roots shirts were some of the red articles of clothing worn at the rally, and supporters waved Canadian flags.

Mayor David Miller told the crowd they ought to feel proud for Canada's troops. Artist Gordon Lightfoot also spoke.

In all, 37 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have died on the mission to Afghanistan since 2002.

More than half of the deaths occurred this summer, when insurgent violence escalated dramatically.

With a report from CTV's Austin Delaney

It would have been nice to know what he said. Thanks for posting this Annie.

Geeze the Mayor made it! He was double booked and said he couldn't...
lol
The Toronto Sun has a full page flag with "Support the Troops" on it...

CTV has on-line coverage-just a mention of Gord...no footage of him tho.
http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/loc...ub=TorontoHome

go to VIDEO on right side - Austin Delaney clip

Just saw him on the news - he was wearing a red sweater with black shirt under it, and black pants...he spoke about Canadians showing support for the troops. He said "we just have to stay there , we're not going to immediately be withdrawn as far as I can tell. they need our support." "we could probably be in deeper than we are but at least we are in there and we are doing our part."
A father of a soldier who died a few weeks ago was shaking hands with people in the crowd and it looked like Gord was waiting his turn to shake his hand and speak with him. There was also a shot of him on the stage with others singing Oh Canada.
It was not a pro-war rally - it was a rally to show our support for the troops.

[ September 29, 2006, 17:23: Message edited by: charlene ]

Was this on CBC? If so, do you hink it will be repeated on the late news?

I'll be checking CBC at 11...If it was on the 6 o'clock news it will be on at 11.
I have the CTV, CITY tv and Global clips recorded.
I would certainly hope the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. was there..they are just 5 minutes down Yonge St. on Front by the CN Tower....and it's our national broadcaster so they better have been there....

Cool. I'll watch for it. I think CBC news is on at 10 here.

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_4000.aspx

mention of Gord here and video of him also.

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_4000.aspx

http://www.torontosun.com/News/Colum...0/1923949.html

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/9...ghtfootwi6.jpg

[ September 30, 2006, 02:35: Message edited by: charlene ]

WOW - our man gets around, eh? Nice photo, thanks for posting. Refreshing point of view straight from the horse's mouth.

Bill :)

He sure does Bill, very nice Charlene. You live in the nicest part of Canada, for a Gordon Lightfoot fan, to be. It's where the action is. If I was closer to Massey Hall, I too, would definitely have seen him more in concert.

I was checking his tour dates, late last night on the Wayne Francis site.


http://www.lightfoot.ca/tour.htm


Just unbeleivable, the number of times, he's played Massey. :)

[ September 30, 2006, 09:20: Message edited by: Jesse -Joe ]

Many thanks for posting this great stuff!
Utterly GREAT to see such a show of unity. Not to mention seeing our hero in the midst of it!
Almost makes me wanna move to Canada! ;D

-Gary

Here it is. I cropped the photo to just show the flag and words.

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...rsuncover1.jpg

It was quite moving to see and I only wish it had been held on a weekend day so more could attend. I'd have been down there for sure...all the more poignant knowing that 3 Canadian soldiers were being buried that afternoon and another died in Afghanistan...The 3 (plus one other) being buried were killed by a suicide/murderer bomber on a bike while they were handing out candies and supplies to children.....

Lightfoot's presence at such an event is even more reason to admire him as a person. The song that most readily comes to mind is "Drink Yer Glasses Empty".
The troops are simply following orders, and must be supported.

I'm rather new to corfid and I'm having a great time checking out alot of previous postings.
This one caught my eye. I'd like to take this opportunity to echo Gary's comments. While I'm not quite ready to leave the States just yet (ha ha), I have the utmost respect for my Canadian brothers and sisters!
Funny thing though. My favorite musicians are Canadian, Gord, Rush (the Rock band).... I just figure its someting in the water.
Thanks to all.

Here it is. I cropped the photo to just show the flag and words.

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...rsuncover1.jpg [/QUOTE]

see footage of the rally at MYSPACE:

Gord welcomes you...

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...2-368ae90a04ee

or

www.myspace.com/canadarally

http://decor-27.slide.com/item/Hkm6a...KzcX2mx0A/item
code:<pre style="font-size:x-small; font-family: monospace;">Thanks Charlene,
It's great to view the support,
but kind of sad to see
what's happening in the world.
~Jesse~</pre>[/QUOTE]

http://hespeler.blogspot.com/2006/09...rom-rally.html

website for fallen Canadian soldier...more pics from rally and a lovely one of Gord...

Thanks Char....
good to see such a display of patriotism, etc.

Thanks to everyone who posted links to this wonderful event. If it were not for our Canadian friends here, I would not have been aware of this rally (big surprise: the media down here didn't cover it at all. Rather unconsciable given that the Canadian troops are over there basically for our benefit). Thanks again.

here's the pics:
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/7...ly20078jz9.jpg

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/5...ly20083im9.jpg

I love in the top picture (in the crowd) how oblivious the folks around him are to the fact that Gord Lightfoot is standing next to them.

I can bet you dollars to doughnuts that most people had no idea who he was until he walked onstage and was introduced...just another Torontonian/Canadian out showing support for the troops....
;)

It's alays great to see that Gordon still gets out there. :) At least he's not some reclusive rock star w/ an ego as big Jupiter! :rolleyes:

Not only is it great that he supports the people sacrificing their lives,it shows that just because one has been around a long time,that doesn't mean you're opinion doesn't matter.

I can't even imagine the idea of a pro-war rally. :confused:
A rally where people "do" want & love the idea of different countries sending youmg men & women off to kill each-other?

Maybe in the early 20th century but not today. Godon certainly wouldn't hae anything to do with something like that.

I can only quote Alan Alda As Hawkeye on MASH:

"I can't understand why anyone would want to willingly go to a war."
"Would go with enthusiasm" and want to be there while it's happening?"

"It's crazy". :(

Just to clarify - the rally was to support the troops...not to support the war.
Regardless of feelings about the war we can show our troops that we support them in their beliefs...