Plaque unveiled to honour late veteran, fallen cadet
A plaque was unveiled at Veterans' Memorial Park Sunday morning to honour the friend of a cadet who died in a historic Orillia tragedy.
October 13, 2024, marked 81 years since Stanley Peacock died in the Fairmile Q116 explosion. The 16-year-old served as an electrician's helper apprentice in Orillia's Royal Canadian Air Cadet 99 Squadron, helping build Fairmile warships during World War II.
On October 13, 1943, Peacock was performing maintenance on the Fairmile Q116 when a gas leak led to an explosion that killed him, burned three men and injured six others.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
Late Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) veteran Raywin Raaflaub was a close friend of Peacock's and made a big push to recognize the fallen cadet.
"He went to the MP, the MPP went to Ottawa, went all over the place to get somebody to recognize that [Peacock] was a member of 441 (Huronia)," said Rick Purcell, president of Orillia Legion Branch 34. "The fact that a volunteer, a citizen of Orillia, died, we thought was very important. So we fought for this for three years."
A monument commemorating Peacock was unveiled at Veterans' Memorial Park this past June, and on Sunday, a plaque was unveiled in front of it to commemorate Raaflaub.
"Ray Raaflaub went to cadets with Stan Peacock, went to school with Stan Peacock and joined the Air Force," added Purcell. "He was really the driving force of us getting this monument done."
Sunday morning's remembrance ceremony to unveil the Raaflaub plaque was attended by members of the Orillia Legion, other veterans, and Raaflaub's daughters, Lisa Day and Debbie Leach.
"My dad and Stanley Peacock were best friends," said Day. "He always wanted Stanley to be recognized for his service, and so for him, this would be such a great honour."
Day and Leach unveiled the Raaflaub plaque and laid wreaths at the site.
"I just respect how long [he served]," said Leach. "The dedication and hours that he put in – volunteer hours – I admired that."
There will be a second memorial on Tuesday at the gravesites of Raaflaub and Peacock, which will be attended by additional members of the RCAF.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump says he 'shouldn't have left' the White House as he closes campaign with increasingly dark message
Donald Trump, who said in Pennsylvania on Sunday that he regrets leaving the White House in 2021, is ending the 2024 campaign the way he began it – dishing out a stew of violent, disparaging rhetoric and repeated warnings that he will not accept defeat if it comes.
Guelph, Ont. woman says she was pushed to homelessness and 'thrown on the street'
For people living on the fringe of society, the line between the safety and security of a home and homelessness is very thin.
James Van Der Beek says he has colorectal cancer
The 'Dawson’s Creek' alum told People magazine in a statement published Sunday that he has colorectal cancer.
Where should Canada look to improve its housing situation? The answer may shock you
Housing experts argue widespread adoption of government-supported affordable housing, the growth of alternative models like co-operatives and co-housing, and the increased use of advanced building techniques could all play a role in improving Canada's housing system.
No strike notice so far as talks continue between Canada Post and workers' union
Canada Post says talks are continuing with the union that represents postal workers and neither side has given notice of a work stoppage.
U.K. prosecutors are mulling whether to charge Russell Brand over sex assault allegations
British prosecutors say they have been given a file of evidence from police about alleged sexual offenses by comedian Russell Brand and are considering whether to charge him.
Federal mediators on site for negotiations between B.C. port employer and union
Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon says federal mediators are standing by and ready to help hammer out a deal in order to avoid a labour disruption at ports across British Columbia.
Winnipeg transit union raises concerns over violence after bus driver has gun pointed at him
The executive vice-president of Winnipeg’s transit union is raising concerns over an increase in violent incidents on buses after an operator allegedly had a gun pointed at him early Friday morning in front of police headquarters.
Trump wants to narrow his deficit with women but he's not changing how he talks about them
Donald Trump's campaign has used sexist and crude language, expressing alarm at the idea of women voting differently than their partners.