JOHNNY BOWER ARMS - VETERANS PUB

It was a big day at the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre on October 1, when family and friends gathered to honour Toronto Maple Leaf goalie, Johnny Bower. As a promotional pamphlet explained, the event was organized "to commemorate Johnny Bower's support of the Veterans at Sunnybrook, we are excited to rename the pub as Johnny Bower Arms."

In addition to making visits with the Maple Leafs Alumni, Johnny joined the Original Six Alumni on several visits to Sunnybrook. To say that Johnny was popular with the Veterans would be a huge understatement. They all wanted an autograph and a picture taken with the Maple Leaf icon. The photos below are of Johnny's visits with the Original Six Alumni.

If anyone could relate to the Veterans it was Johnny Bower. When the Second World War broke out, Johnny was 15, and was a member of an army reserve unit in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. At the age of 18, Johnny's unit was sent over to Europe. "I was put into the Second Canadian Division, as a gunner with the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders," Johnny wrote in his 2008 autobiography. He didn't see any action due to illness.

A packed house gathered in Warriors' Hall to begin the renaming ceremony. A dedication plaque was unveiled, then the activities moved to the Johnny Bower Arms - Veterans Pub. Here are some photos from the event.

John Bower II with Toronto Maple Leafs Alumni president, Dan Daoust.

The Bower family. Photo Credit: Hat Trick Productions.

Of all the tributes conducted since his passing, it wouldn't be a stretch to believe that the renaming of the pub at Sunnybrook would top Johnny Bower's list if favourite moments.