Torontonians filled Exhibition Place on Saturday to honour veterans of the First and Second World Wars at the 96th annual Warriors' Day Parade.

This year's ceremony commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge and the 75th Anniversary of the Dieppe Raid.



For survivors of war who experienced the conflict first-hand, the ceremony was a reminder of how significant their efforts were.





Neill spent six years overseas with an advanced team in the Canadian Army from 1939 to 1944.

Second World War Veteran Harry Neill looks on at the Warriors' Day Parade at Exhibition Place with a rifle in hand. (CBC News )

While his memories may be a little bit foggy now, Neill said he still remembers fighting in the war and exchanging enemy fire with Vickers machine guns. When asked why it's important people march in the parade, 95-year-old Dieppe Raid veteran Harry Neill said it's because a lot of men gave their lives.Neill spent six years overseas with an advanced team in the Canadian Army from 1939 to 1944.While his memories may be a little bit foggy now, Neill said he still remembers fighting in the war and exchanging enemy fire with Vickers machine guns.

"It was just amazing, you know. Like that was reality. We see movies but he was there in real life," said his son-in-law, Jim Emmerson.