In was 1944 and the now 82-year-old well-known philanthropist and Mississauga resident of 55 years was just a teenager who was trying to raise money for football bleachers.
Shipp, then 16, convinced a pilot who had ferried Lancaster bombs from Toronto to England during World War II to fly over the football field at Etobicoke Collegiate Institute, dropping cards that could be redeemed for prizes.
It was a classic high school moment that went awry when the wind caught the cards, sending them into a cabbage patch belonging to the neighbouring Chinese market.
The now legendary misadventure has been captured on a new mural, dubbed First High Flier, which can be seen on a prominent wall at the Royal Customs Cleaner at 494 Dundas St. W. The mural, which is dedicated to Shipp's impact on the community, was painted by John Kuna and unveiled to the community Saturday afternoon.
It is one of nine murals that show human and architectural heritage, dubbed the Islington Mosaic. It's the product of a partnership between the Village of Islington Business Improvement Area, the Heritage Etobicoke Foundation and Toronto Economic Development.
Shipp said he was excited to look back on an event that happened 64 years ago.
"This is such a great day," said Shipp as the rain drizzled around him. "To me, the sun is shining."
Shipp added he was happy to see old classmates and particularly glad that his now 103-year-old high school teacher, football and basketball coach, Pete Johnson, could attend.
A he admired First High Flier, Shipp got the crowd laughing when he told them of the 800 excited football fans that trampled the cabbage patch in the Chinese market garden to collect the cards on that special day in 1944.
"Before long, over the PA system, 'Will Harold Shipp report to the office' ... well, not unexpected," he said with a laugh.
Catharine Shipp-Wells told The News her father has always been quite the class clown.
"He had a lot of fun, as he's always had in life," said the mother of three.
She said although her father has accepted many accolades in his life — including building the first subdivision in Applewood Acres through his company Shipp Corp., and making the largest charitable gift, $6-million, to the Trillium Health Centre.
But, she said, the mural is extra special for him.
Shipp-Wells explains her father shared his entrepreneurial spirit with his grandchildren when he took them to see the mural while it was a work in progress.
"He told them, 'If you have an idea, don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't do it. Just go with it'," she said.
jle@mississauga.net
