Leonard Spinks waving at procession of people honouring him during is 100th birthday | Photo Credit: Dan Lynch
A century’s legacy in one person, Leonard Spinks has spent a significant amount of those years giving his time to not just his community, but his country.
He was born in 1926, one hundred years ago last April, in Almonte and grew up in nearby Appleton.
Spinks began his military career in 1944 at Fort Frontenac in Kingston and served with the Toronto Scottish Vickers Machine Gun Regiment and trained with the special forces.
In his time with the military, Spinks trained for his airborne service at Camp Shilo, Manitoba and Fort Benning, Georgia.
While with the machine gun regiment, Spinks spent time deployed in the Netherlands. Following his deployment, upon his return after the war, he met and spoke with Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and received a silk scarf as gratitude for their efforts.
He eventually returned to Kingston where he created a rehabilitation program to help prisoner of war veterans re-enter society.
Spinks says in his time overseas, they hoped they had made a difference, that they had made the world a better place, but in doing so, made their lives much more difficult.
Spinks and his crew were close, like a family. They all cared for one another and stayed strong through the times that seemed impossible.
Now, 82 years later, Spinks says it’s all worth it seeing the smiles on children’s faces, playing, carefree. That everything that happened years ago wasn’t for naught.
Spinks is a window into a time where so much was given to keep everything at home the way we would like to live. Free, protected and thriving.
Outside his military service, he returned to the valley, creating a family with his wife. Spinks worked at Kenwood Mills for 16 years, with the OPP as an Auxiliary Officer for 10 years and even with the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario for 27 years. He was also heavily involved in the community with the Legion, Masonic Lodge and Baptist Church.
The Town of Arnprior dedicated a brand new road called Leonard Spinks Way in the Callahan Estates subdivision, honouring his service to not only Arnprior and Renfrew County, but Canada and beyond.
Ceremonies are happening all throughout Canada today, but Remembrance Day isn’t the only day you can help your local veterans. Local Legion branches are open year round, supporting local veterans and the communities they are located in and they’re more than happy to see you.
(Written by: Bob Kubbinga)