'Singing veteran' a treasure of GTA commute for Remembrance Day

For 27 years, Bill Reid has been doing the near impossible making rushed GTA commuters slow down, smile and reflect in the tunnels of Appleby GO Station.

Reid is known as "The Singing Veteran," and his robust baritone has been filling the concrete halls of the stationleading up to Remembrance Day each year.

The 81-year-old Burlington veteran is quick with a song, a smile and a story as he hands out poppies and collects donations for Canadian veterans.

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"We need to take care of our veterans, young and old," he said, in between verses of wartime-era standards. "We need to build a country on honesty an integrity like we fought for."

Reid is a retired teacher and principal who sang with the Hamilton opera, and his flair for the theatrical is infectious. Otherwise dour commuters can't help but beam when Reid's booming voice is belting out All the Nice Girls Love a Sailor or Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning.

In the last few years I've seen our numbers grow at the cenotaph. There's a change and a growth.- Bill Reid, veteran

People line up two and three deep to have him pin a poppy on their lapel. Some come with young children, telling them it's important to meet Reid and thank him for his service.

Reid who grew up in Halifax during the Second World War and later served in Belgium thanks each person individually and earnestly for their donations, saying they are always much needed.

"We have so few veterans who can go out now they're afraid to go out. They're afraid they can't handle it," Reid said. "Trying to get the young people out, it can be hard to do."

"But in the last few years I've seen our numbers grow at the cenotaph. There's a change and a growth."

After so many years serenading, Reid is starting to show signs of slowing down a little. At the behest of his wife, he's taking breaks in a chair off his feet in between songs.

But while time might be catching up with him, he shows no signs of stopping his yearly ritual.

"See you next year, god willing!" he bellows. "And thank you for wearing a poppy."

adam.carter@cbc.ca