A roof-tip view of the 48th Highlanders Band marching past 519 Church Street for opening of the new 48th Highlanders Memorial Hall, 1946.
The dedication and official opening ceremony was before His Excellency, the Governor General of Canada, Viscount Alexander of Tunis, KG, GCB, GCMG, CSI, DSO, MC accompanied by Viscountess Margaret, with LCol Ganong in command of the regiment. The three-story building, at 519 Church Street, the former location of the Granite Club, had been purchased by donations from WWII veterans, former Highlanders of all ranks, and the Regimental Associations. The uniformed Regiment lined both sides of Church Street from Wellesley to Gloucester. A platform stretched across the front of the building and was crowded by high-ranking officers of the armed forces, members of the 48th Chapter IODE, former officers commanding and the Old Comrades executive headed by President (RQMS) Harry Ralph. Three regimental chaplains took part in the memorial and dedication service. On June 1949 the title of the property was conveyed by the Trustees to the newly chartered 48th Highlanders Association and the Old Comrades Association assumed responsibility for its ongoing management. The OCA would remain at this location for 27 years.
[Prior accession No. -P1535]