Alex Polowin, who lied about his age to fight Nazis in Europe, dedicated his life to peace and education. At…
When the Canadian flag from the Juno Beach Centre arrived at Alex Polowin’s Ottawa condominium in late April, the Second World War veteran wasn’t sure how he was going to display it to anyone.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Polowin, 97, has been careful to follow the government rules against socializing during the recent lockdowns in Ontario.
Now the flag is on public display all week in the lobby of his building as part of a special exhibit to mark the 77th anniversary of D-Day.
If you haven’t heard Alex Polowin, nearly 97, play his harmonica when he speaks about his experiences as a sailor in the Canadian navy during the Second World War, you are missing a real treat. The Ottawa veteran even pulled out his battered harmonica April 23, 2021 to serenade his friends and family after receiving the Sovereign Medal, Canada’s highest honour for civilians who volunteer with their community.
Read the full story that I wrote for the Canadian Jewish News about the event, to learn what the Rt. Hon. Richard Wagner told Polowin when he presented the medal during a virtual ceremony.
From the 500 local Jewish men and women who served in a Canadian military uniform in the Second World War,…
With the 75th anniversary of D-Day in 2019, the good people behind the Juno Beach Centre criss-crossed the country to…