Project Founders Receive King Charles III Coronation Medal

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On January 15, 2025, Co-Founder and Project Coordinator, Katy Whitfield, along with Co-Founder Ian Da Silva, was honored with the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal at the Grenadier Restaurant in High Park. Their nomination came from the then Justice Minister and Attorney General of Canada, the Honourable Arif Virani, who is also the Member of Parliament for Parkdale-High Park.

Katy, Ian, and their friend Michael were among 34 inspiring Torontonians from the Parkdale-High Park riding to receive this award from MP Virani, on behalf of His Majesty, King Charles III, and Her Excellency, Governor General of Canada, Mary Simon. This medal signifies community recognition for their dedicated service, particularly for their impactful “They walked these streets…” remembrance project. Both Whitfield and Da Silva expressed their humility and gratitude for this prestigious acknowledgment. They were delighted to share this occasion with fellow recipient Michael Di Tomaso, a vital member of the community museum team, who received the award for his exceptional contributions as a history teacher and his public history advocacy. The celebration was further enriched by the presence of both of their families. They extend their heartfelt thanks to the community for the ongoing support and engagement with their project, feeling truly honored by this distinctive award amidst their efforts for community remembrance.

They Walked These Streets in partnership with Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 101, Long Branch generously received funding in support of community events for the 100th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion in July 2026. 

On Saturday, July 18th, we co-hosted a community celebration and event that was generously funded in part by the Government of Canada, through the Veterans Affairs Canada Community Partnership Grant. 

It is with this funding that we were able to purchase technology and materials to digitize, curate, and share historic objects, stories and resources with our local community. Thank you to the Government of Canada!