On Sunday, May 31, 2009, a large crowd of Salvation Army officers, soldiers and friends gathered at Toronto's Mount Pleasant Cemetery for the 95th annual memorial service commemorating the sinking of the Empress of Ireland, in which more than 150 Salvationists lost their lives while en route to the international congress in London, England, in 1914. 

Commissioner William W. Francis was on hand to dedicate the newly restored Eastman monument, marking the place where the first Salvation Army officer was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Music was provided by Yorkminster Citadel Band (Bandmaster Greg Colley) and Commissioner Marilyn D. Francis, who sang Sidney E. Cox's In God's Tomorrow. 

The Canadian Staff Band was represented at the service by Major Kevin Metalf, executive officer, who was the guest speaker for the occasion, and Major Ken Smith, deputy bandmaster, who laid a wreath on behalf of the original members of the band who perished in the disaster.