A 59-year-old man who was assaulted while supervising the distribution of Remembrance Day poppies by Air Cadets at a Hamilton, Ont., mall over the weekend remains unable to walk and faces an “uncertain” long-term recovery, according to his son. The incident happened at The Centre on Barton near Barton Street and Kenilworth Avenue on Sunday afternoon. Police have previously said that two youths approached Air Cadets members in front of a restaurant and “blew a loud air horn” into their ears. The supervisor of the cadets followed the suspects into a restaurant and confronted them, at which point he was allegedly assaulted by a woman who was not involved in the initial altercation. A male youth then allegedly struck the man multiple times before fleeing the scene. Police later charged a 12-year-old boy with assault and a 48-year-old woman with aggravated assault in connection with the incident. The victim has since been identified as Canadian Armed Forces member Kenneth Kunkel. Kunkel is a commanding officer of 826 Gryphon Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, the spokesperson said. Kunkel’s son Christopher spoke with CTV News on Thursday about his father’s recovery, which he said has been slow. “He had to have same-day spinal surgery. It was a very risky surgery but we are all very thankful that he pulled through. I’m very proud to announce he has gained some mobility back, however he is still bedridden and cannot even sit up without extensive assistance,” he said. “What he loves doing is helping out the cadets and being with his grandchildren and we are fighting tirelessly to make sure he can get back to that.” Police have previously described Kunkel’s injuries as serious and “life-altering.” In a statement issued late Wednesday, Christopher Kunkel said that his father intervened to protect his cadets. “Our family’s understanding is that my father intervened to protect his cadets and de-escalate the situation. Those young people were giving their time to honour veterans and help their community. They deserved to be safe, and so did the person responsible for their wellbeing,” Christopher Kunkel wrote. In the statement provided to CTV News, Christopher Kunkel alleged that the 48-year-old woman charged in the incident attacked his father in such a way that it impacted his spine and “caused his legs to buckle and immediately lose function.” He said that the 12-year-old charged in the incident then “repeatedly punched” his father while he was on the ground. The allegations have not yet been tested in court. Speaking with CTV News on Friday, Christopher Kunkel said that his father is in “good spirits” and has been “very eager to talk to his grandchildren and let them know that things are going to be OK.” “The day prior we had enjoyed a very wonderful Halloween together. He had four grandchildren in tow, he was walking six or seven blocks and none of us ever expected that it would be one of the last times he was walking around with his grandchildren,” he said. National outcry The attack on Kunkel has drawn widespread condemnation, with federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre taking to social media earlier this week to express his dismay. “No child should fear violence while selling a poppy. No Canadian should be brutalized for standing up for them. Those responsible for this cowardly attack must face the full consequences of the law,” Poilievre said. Hamilton East–Stoney Creek MP Ned Kuruc also addressed the incident in the House of Commons this week, noting that he was “absolutely disgusted” by the allegations. “To see a CAF member attacked while volunteering his time to support our veterans is heartbreaking and completely unacceptable,” he said.
