By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The Hampstead Remembrance Day ceremony, held at the Cenotaph at Hampstead Park, was attended by many dignitaries with a special participation by a detachment of Grenadier Guards and a moving exhibit including an original Grenadiers Vimy Ridge Memorial. The dignitaries included Mayor Jeremy Levi and council members, Israeli Consul-General Paul Hirschson, who laid a wreath representing those killed in the Holocaust; Senator Leo Housakos, Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather, Conservative Mount Royal candidate and lawyer Neil Oberman; Alex Copeman, D’Arcy McGee MNA Elisabeth Prass’ political attaché; Hampstead Director General Joe Nunez and other town employees; Rabbi Moishe New of the Montreal Torah Centre, and students from Solomon Schechter Academy, Hampstead Elementary School, Bialik High School and John Grant High School.

Also in attendance was the family of Montrealer and World War II Sgt. Samuel Moses “Moe” Hurwitz, the most decorated Canadian Jewish soldier in World War II who fought bravely as part of the Canadian Grenadier Guards. He died in 1944 of wounds suffered in combat.

“Sgt. Moe Hurwitz’s life and service exemplified the very essence of what it means to be a guardian of freedom and a beacon of hope to his comrades and fellow citizens,” Mayor Levi said. “His story is a testament to the enduring values of inclusivity, unity and the unshakable commitment to upholding the principles that bind us.”

Senator Housakos also paid tribute to Hurwitz, saying he turned down a tryout with the Boston Bruins and instead enlisted to fight in the war.

“He said ‘there’s no time to play hockey when millions of my brothers are getting killed in Europe.’ It was said at the time of his passing, ‘lost to the regiment was its most purposeful and persistent soldier, whose deeds of gallant leadership were an inspiration to those who succeeded him in the battles that were to follow.’ May Moe’s memory be a blessing and inspiration to all of us gathered here today and may it serve as a critical reminder of our collective responsibility to preserve the peace and freedoms Moe and every other soldier fought so hard to achieve.”

Wreaths were also laid representing Canada, Quebec, municipalities, veterans, Hurwitz; the Canadian Grenadier Guards, the Royal Montreal Regiment and the Royal Canadian Legion — members of each were on hand as part of the ceremony; and the SPVM and the SIM — the Montreal Fire Department.

Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi was presented with the King Charles III Coronation Medal by Conservative Senator Leo Housakos, following the ceremony. Honourees are recognized for outstanding achievement in public service and volunteerism. Levi is known for being very active and outspoken, in public and on social media, in support of Israel and against the anti-Israel and antisemitic protests that have taken place in Montreal since the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack.

The medal presentation took place in the Adessky Community Centre, where the town also presented an elaborate exhibition of war artifacts from the Canadian Grenadier Guards, the Royal Montreal Regiment and individual collections — including an original 1917 Canadian Grenadier Guards Vimy Ridge memorial.

Senator Housakos said during the medal presentation, “Mayor, I want to thank you for being a strong voice for what is right in our country and our society and your community.

“I say to everybody, as a Senator, when I go to coast to coast to coast in this country, that the best Mayor in Canada is Mayor Levi, I mean it from the bottom of my heart. He never shies away from doing the right thing, from saying the right thing. The medal goes to people for significant contributions to community and country, and Mayor Levi, you have done that in spades. Hampstead is lucky to have you.”

Levi thanked Housakos, and humbly responded that the medal “belongs to the entire community. I’m just a voice for the community.”

The Mayor then presented Housakos with a Freedom of the City commemorative coin, one side representing Hampstead and the other side representing the Canadian Grenadier Guards. n