Hitler’s swastika and the Jewish flag were carried in the first official parade celebrating Toronto’s one hundredth birthday.
Thirty nations were represented in the parade, which was led by the governor-general of Canada and witnessed by 100,000 Toronto residents and others who had come from out of town for the event.
The long line of march, flying the colors of all nations, proceeded to the “old fort,” now known as York Fort. At City Hall Lieutenant Governor Bruce, prime minister of Ontario, reviewed the parade.
The Jewish paraders received considerable applause at various points along the route as they marched close behind the German group bearing the colors of Hitler’s Reich.
Jews figure prominently in the traditions of Toronto, the Levy and Joseph families having settled here 117 years ago, seventeen years before the town of York became the city of Toronto.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.