Calling on GTHA Communities: Let's Honour our Veterans and First Responders

This Friday, November 17, join the City of Markham in partnership with the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles Association (4CMRA) to commemorate Red Friday, honouring Canada's Veterans and first responders.

"We are proud at the City of Markham to be included in this meaningful launch," says Mayor Frank Scarpitti. "Peace comes at a great cost and we should never forget the sacrifices made in the name of peace. Let's honour our heroes - it doesn't take much, wearing something red is a small token of our appreciation."

Mayor Scarpitti is calling on GTHA communities to show our appreciation to veterans and first responders by joining this movement.

Red (Remember Everyone Deployed) Fridays was started in 2006 by Karen Kelly and Lisa Miller, two military wives with husbands deployed in Afghanistan. They wanted to give Canadians the opportunity to show their gratitude to our past and present heroes, by wearing red on Fridays. It was a real grassroots movement that at its highest point, resulted in a demonstration of over 20,000 Canadians on Parliament Hill in support of our troops.

The 4CMRA is proud to have these two women working in partnership with them to reinvigorate and carry Red Fridays across the country. Red Fridays also honours our first responders, including police, fire and emergency services.

"Our veterans are the ones who have had, and continue to have our backs," says Robert McTaggart, BA, Founder and Chairman of the Board of the 4th Canadian Mounted Riles Association. "They are the ones who help keep peace in the world, and risk their lives when need be."

"They run toward danger with valour, they watch over us and keep us safe," says Mayor Scarpitti. "It is our duty to remember the brave men and women who serve not just in the battlefield but on our frontlines as well. Paramedics, firefighters and police officers keep us secure. We need to honour them, support them and thank them."

Phil Badanai served with the Royal Canadian Regiment 1st and 3rd Battalion. He was shot in 1994 while serving in Croatia. Now a firefighter, Mr. Badanai competed in indoor tennis, wheelchair tennis and wheelchair rugby during the 2017 Toronto Invictus Games. He was diagnosed with PTSD and says, "I felt broken and damaged, but that doesn't mean I cannot do my job. Life hasn't stopped. We need acceptance and understanding and we shouldn't be quick to judge." Mr. Badanai will be sharing his story and experience with PTSD on Friday.

Join the conversation with the hashtags #RedFriday and #RedFridayMarkham.

What:

Red Friday News Conference

When:

Friday, November 17, 2017 
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Where:

Markham District Veterans Association (MDVA) 
7 Washington Street, Markham

In Attendance:

RA Bob McTaggart, 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles Association 
Cpl Phil Badanai, Royal Canadian Regiment, firefighter and Invictus Games 2017 Team Canada athlete 
Mayor Frank Scarpitti 
Members of Council 
Markham District Veterans Association 
Markham Fire Services 
York Regional Police 
Brian Patterson, St. John's Ambulance/ Ontario Safety League

Markham Fire & Emergency Services joins RA Bob McTaggart, 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles Association and Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti to commemorate Red Fridays in the City of Markham.
 

Click HERE for quick facts on Red Friday

Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti: mayorscarpitti@markham.ca or 416.671.2890

Media inquiries / interview requests: RA Bob McTaggart, Chairman and Founder of 4CMRA at ramct@4cmr.ca or 416.371.8518

City of Markham Corporate Communications & Community Engagement Department at media@markham.ca or 905.415.7548.

About 4CMRA: The Fourth Canadian Mounted Rifles Association is named after one of the most famous and highly decorated units in WW1, the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles, perpetuates their memory. It is the Mission of the 4CMRA to commemorate the deeds of the Canadian, and American, citizen armies from WW1. The 4CMRA provides a present-day voice by honoring those citizen armies through living history, education, memorials, community participation, and promoting understanding of Canadian, and American, military history.

About Markham: Markham, a municipality with 350,000 residents centrally located in the Greater Toronto area, is home to over 400 corporate head offices and more than 1,100 high tech and life science companies. Founded in the 1790s, today Markham is Canada’s most diverse community, enjoys a rich heritage, outstanding community planning and services, and a vibrant local economy. Markham has received the Excellence Canada Gold Award for Organizational Quality & Healthy Workplace, and multiple heritage and environmental awards.