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President's Award

Thursday October 28th., 2004

Prior to the presentation by Steve Pitt, author of "Rain Tonight"
a book on Hurricane Hazel,
Nicholas Doran, Past President of the Society addressed the meeting.

Mr. Doran advised those gathered, of a conversation with Mr. Jim Crawford, a Toronto Police Constable at the time, who during Hurricane Hazel on the 15th of October 1954 along with Herb Jones
and Herb's outboard motorboat  made over 20 harrowing trips during five hours,
bringing more than 50 people to shore and to safety.

It was during this conversation with Jim Crawford, Mr. Doran found out neither
Herb Jones nor Jim Crawford were ever recognized for the valiant efforts during Hurricane Hazel.

The Etobicoke Historical Society was about to change this.

Mr. Doran called upon the Society's President, Gregory Wowchuk to make a special plaque presentation to Jim Crawford which read:

Etobicoke Historical Society
President's Award

awarded to
Jim Crawford
On the occasion of the 50^th Anniversary of Hurricane Hazel.
"Canada's Storm of the Century"

This Award is presented by the Etobicoke Historical Society,
in recognition of their heroic action, while in the company of
Herb Jones and his outboard motorboat, made over 20 harrowing trips
during five hours, bringing more than 50 people to shore and to safety.

Thursday October 28, 2004
(signature of the President)

Following the presentation to Jim Crawford, President Wowchuk called upon
Mrs Herb Jones to come forward along with Mrs Marsha Kennedy, daughter
to receive a plaque presented postumously to husband and father
Herb Jones, which read

 
Etobicoke Historical Society
President's Award

awarded to
Herb Jones
On the occasion of the 50^th Anniversary of Hurricane Hazel.
"Canada's Storm of the Century"

This Award is presented by the Etobicoke Historical Society,
in recognition of their heroic action, while in the company of
Jim Crawford and Herb's outboard motorboat,  made over 20 harrowing trips
during five hours, bringing more than 50 people to shore and to safety.

Thursday October 28, 2004
(signature of the President)

Following the presentation by Steve Pitt and responding to questions
from those gathered, President Wochuk
related his own experience and advised he too was a Hurricane Hazel baby. 

Mary, his mother, a 29 year old had exited a streetcar, and trudged
through water halfway up to her knees to walk another half a mile home. 
She felt ill, but went on to a girlfriend's home, her labour pains started. 
The baby was not due for another month.  She was taken by her husband
to the hospital, where on October 18th., 1954
Gregory Wowchuk was born by caesarean

The President thanked Steve Pitt for an excellent presentation gave him an honourium
as a token of thanks along with a membership to
the Etobicoke Historical Society.