Remembrance Day ceremonies are planned throughout Canada from Halifax to Ottawa to Vancouver on Nov. 11 to pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the country.
The country’s biggest ceremony, hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion, will be in Ottawa at the National War Memorial. It will begin around 10:45 a.m. as dignitaries, including the prime minister, the Governor General, and the Silver Cross Mother arrive.
This year’s Silver Cross Mother is Maureen Anderson from New Brunswick, whose two sons served overseas in the Canadian Army, including in Afghanistan. The role involves laying a wreath on behalf of all Canadian mothers who have lost a child in military service.
Between 10:50 a.m. and 11:59 a.m., Canadian Armed Forces’ CF-18 Hornet fighter jets will fly over the ceremony location and other Royal Canadian Legion locations in Ottawa. This year’s ceremony will also include a special flypast of vintage military aircraft in honour of the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
The Ottawa ceremony, which will be streamed live on the Royal Canadian Legion’s Facebook page, includes a singing of the national anthem, two minutes of silence, and a wreath-laying ceremony. Those who attend also place poppies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier throughout the day.
Remembrance Day ceremonies are also planned at various locations throughout Toronto, including the official provincial ceremony in front of the Ontario Legislative Building in Queen’s Park. It begins at 10:45 a.m., and will also be streamed live.
Other ceremony locations in the GTA include the Scarborough War Memorial, the Memorial Gardens in East York Civic Centre, the Cenotaph at York Cemetery, the York Civic Centre Cenotaph, the Cenotaph at the Etobicoke Civic Centre, and Fort York National Historic Site.
The Toronto Zoo will also be holding a Remembrance Day ceremony. Visitors will get a 50 percent discount on admission, while veterans and those in uniform (Armed Forces, police, fire, and paramedics) will get in free.
Halifax Ceremonies
On Canada’s East Coast, Halifax will be starting its Remembrance Day ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site. It will begin with the 1st Field Artillery Regiment firing a 21-gun salute.The Army Museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. so that guests can learn more about Canada’s military role overseas. The Halifax Citadel will also be open for guests from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A grand parade will take place on Argyle Street at 11 a.m. for the general public to attend in honour of Canada’s veterans.
Halifax’s Memorial Library Building will be hosting a Remembrance Day light projection show from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Prairie Ceremonies
In Winnipeg, the official Remembrance Day ceremony will be held at the RBC Convention Centre. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. The ceremony begins at 10:40 a.m. Legions across Manitoba will also be holding ceremonies in their communities.In Saskatchewan, a service will be held at Saskatoon’s SaskTel Centre. Doors will open at 8:45 a.m. with the program starting at 10 a.m. It will also be livestreamed online.
A ceremony will be held in City Hall in Edmonton to honour those who have served the country in the Armed Forces. The service starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 11:30 a.m. Seating will begin at 9:15 a.m. After the ceremony, an outdoor procession will head to the City Hall Cenotaph for wreath laying.
B.C. Ceremonies
In Vancouver, a ceremony will take place at the Cenotaph at Victoria Square starting at 10 a.m. This is the 100th anniversary of the service, which was first held in 1924.The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada will hold a public Remembrance Day ceremony at the Seaforth Armoury in Kitsilano, beginning at 10:50 a.m. and ending with pipes and drums at 12:30 p.m.
Beginning at 10:45 a.m., the University of British Columbia will host a ceremony at the War Memorial Gym at its Point Grey campus for faculty, staff, students, and the surrounding community. UBC has held the event every year since the memorial gym opened in 1951.
Other communities in Metro Vancouver will also be holding services, including Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond, and North Vancouver.
