The Freedom of the City parade marched through Barrie this morning; the start of a week-long celebration of Canadian Forces Base Borden.
It has been 100 years since Sir Sam Hughes, minister of the militia ordered the construction of Camp Borden.
Over the past century, more than two million soldiers, sailers, air men and air women have trained there.
The Freedom of the City tradition dates back almost 400 years in British Military history. It is a ceremonial act to allow an armed force to walk freely with bayonetes drawn in a community such as ours was a display of the community's trust and respect.
An urn containing soil from the World War 1 battlefield at Vimy Ridge was presented to the city at an official ceremony.
"It is an enormous honour today, to accept this urn of soil which has come from the battlefield at Vimy," said Mayor Jeff Lehman. He then led a standing ovation to recognize the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces.
The celebration will end with the Canadian Forces Base Borden Day and Air Show next weekend. The show is expected to bring more than 30,000 people to the base. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit 100yearsoffreedom.ca.
