When The Ghosts Come Home: Honouring The Fallen Through “Walking Ghosts” In Toronto

This weekend, the streets of Toronto will become a living memorial. On the morning of Saturday, November 8, silent figures—Canadian soldiers of the First World War—will walk once more. These “ghosts,” portrayed by real veterans, first responders, and historical re-enactors, will make their way to three downtown cenotaphs, marking 107 years since the end of the Great War. The powerful tribute, titled Walking Ghosts, is meant to remind us not only of what was lost—but of the humanity behind every name carved in stone.

“Lest we forget our humanity and that behind the battles of the Great War are individuals, young men who died in anonymity for the freedoms we have today,” says Jack Gin, one of the event organizers, Rocky Mountain Rangers representative, and founder of the Jack and Sylvia Gin Foundation. “Many of these soldiers did not make it back, but today they have.”

A Tribute to the Forgotten

Among the ghosts will be Private Fred Lee, an original Rocky Mountain Ranger and one of only three known Chinese-Canadian soldiers to serve in WWI. Lee disappeared during the Battle of Hill 70 and has no known grave—his name lives on at the Vimy Memorial among 11,285 others who never returned.

“It means a lot to me to bring Fred’s story home,” says Gin. “My forefathers lived in B.C. at the time. I’m of identical heritage, a born-in-Canada visible minority. Fred Lee had close to zero opportunities in 1916—but he was proud to wear the maple leaf badge as a soldier. He represents thousands whose stories were never told.”

A Silent Reflection

The Walking Ghosts do not speak. They move quietly among the living, carrying only data cards that tell their stories. “The soldiers were killed in action. We don’t know their voices or the dreams they had. Their voices were lost when they were killed,” explains Gin. “Creating Fred Lee’s data card reflects the hockey card he never got. Both his brothers played organized hockey—and I believe he would have too, had he lived.”

From Britain to Canada

Inspired by a 2016 U.K. tribute marking 100 years since the Battle of the Somme, Gin and his collaborators—the Rocky Mountain Rangers, the 48th Highlanders, the Royal Canadian Legion, and Toronto Police and Fire Services—adapted the concept to tell a uniquely Canadian story.

“After Vimy Ridge, the four divisions of the Canadian Army came together under General Arthur Currie and became known as the ‘Shock Troops of the Empire,’” says Gin. “We have a lot to be proud of. The Ghosts will honour our fallen at the three cenotaphs in Toronto—because we remember them as one national army, one nation born from sacrifice.”

A Call to Remember

Gin hopes the event will bridge the gap between generations. “We need to remember them and the identity they earned. We emerged as a nation because of them,” he says. “While most had English or Scottish names, thousands of Asians, Blacks, and Indigenous soldiers also fought. For those who were neglected or forgotten, we ought to relearn our history to remember them.”

Above all, Walking Ghosts is a meditation on empathy. “We all say ‘lest we forget,’ but the ghosts bring their faces to confront your mind. They were people just like you and me,” Gin reflects. “The tragedy of war was a human toll on both sides. Remembering our humanity—that’s what truly honours their memory.”

Walking Ghosts takes place Saturday, November 8, with appearances at:

• 10:00 AM: Sons of England Memorial (University Ave & Elm St)
• 11:00 AM: Ontario Veterans Memorial (Queen’s Park)
• 12:00 PM: 48th Highlanders Memorial (Wellesley St W)

For more information, visit Jack and Sylvia Gin Foundation. —Noa Nichol