Burlington resident and D-Day veteran Gordon Schottlander celebrated his 100th birthday on Friday, January 10.
Schottlander was born in England in 1924, was a member of the Royal Berkshire Regiment that paired up with the Canadian forces on D-Day, storming Juno Beach on June 6, 1944 when he was only 18-years-old.
Following the war, Schottlander moved to Burlington with his wife Colleen. The two had four sons, 16 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.
Schottlander was named the Ontario Senior Citizen of the Year in 2024, after being nominated by Mayor Marianne Meed Ward.
“Today, I had the great honour of celebrating my friend Gordon Schottlander’s 100th birthday,” the mayor wrote on Twitter. “Gordon is truly a remarkable individual. At just 17 years old, he courageously landed on Juno Beach on D-Day to defend the rights and freedoms we hold dear. Over the course of his incredible life, he has witnessed history unfold, from its triumphs to its challenges, and continues to inspire us with the wisdom and lessons gained from his century of experience.”
Schottlander is a regular at Remembrance Day ceremonies in Burlington, where he can usually be found seated next to his grandson Dave.
Today, I had the great honour of celebrating my friend Gordon Schottlander’s 100th birthday. Gordon is truly a remarkable individual. At just 17 years old, he courageously landed on Juno Beach on D-Day to defend the rights and freedoms we hold dear. Over the course of his… pic.twitter.com/a3q7ET5Xs3
— Marianne Meed Ward (@MariannMeedWard) January 10, 2025