Herb Davis a Rep. for The Royal Newfoundland Regiment Advisory Council arranges a wreath of flowers ahead of a ceremony at the National War Memorial on Remembrance Day in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada November 11, 2021.PATRICK DOYLE/Reuters
Here’s what’s happening across Canada for Remembrance Day:
- The arrivals of both the Prime Minister and Governor-General to the War Memorial in Ottawa were delayed due to security concerns
- Ontario Premier Doug Ford held a ceremony at Queen’s Park in Toronto
- Canada’s political leaders marked Remembrance Day in-person
- Here’s what’s open and closed and where are ceremonies being held across Canada
12:50 p.m. ET
Trudeau, Simon delayed due to security concerns: RCMP
Both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Governor-General Mary Simon, who is also the Commander in Chief of Canada, arrived behind schedule to the national Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa. A spokesperson for Rideau Hall said in a statement Thursday that the “security concerns caused a delay in the sequence of arrival.”
The Prime Minister is usually scheduled to arrive at about 10:45 a.m. ET, but he instead arrived at the Cenotaph alongside his wife at about 11:00 a.m. ET. Ms. Simon’s arrival took place after that.
In photos: Remembrance Day ceremonies across Canada
11:30 a.m. ET
Ontario Premier Doug Ford pays tribute to veterans at Queen’s Park ceremony
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is highlighting the contribution of Canadian soldiers who served in Afghanistan in a Remembrance Day ceremony this morning.
Speaking outside the Ontario legislature, Ford noted this year marks 20 years since the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center and the start of Canada’s mission in Afghanistan.
The premier also paid tribute to those who served in the First and Second World Wars, the Korean and Gulf wars, and “countless” peacekeeping missions around the world.
Federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and U.S. Consul General Susan Crystal are among the dignitaries attending the ceremony outside Queen’s Park.
In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony is not open to the public, but is being broadcast live online. More than 500 viewers logged on during the two minutes of silence.
Those attending in person, including the premier, are wearing masks, except when delivering their speeches.
– The Canadian Press
11:00 a.m. ET
‘Our responsibility to bear witness’: Canadians gather at Ottawa’s War Memorial to honour service, sacrifice of veterans
Canadians gathered at the War Memorial in Ottawa to mark the contributions and service of the more than 2.3 million Canadians who have served in uniform, and more than 120,000 who died, since the country was founded in 1867.
The ceremony began about 10 minutes behind schedule, according to a timeline provided by the Royal Canadian Legion. Both the Prime Minister and Governor General arrived behind schedule. A spokesperson for Rideau Hall said in a statement Thursday that the “security concerns caused a delay in the sequence of arrival.”
Gov. Gen. Mary May Simon noted that many of those who did come home were not the same people they were before.
May Simon, who wore the uniform of the Royal Canadian Air Force, attended her first Remembrance Day as the country’s commander-in-chief and acknowledged the long history and sacrifice of Indigenous Peoples in uniform.
She noted that this year marked the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Kapyong during the Korean War and 15 years since the first Canadian woman died in combat, Capt. Nichola Goddard.
Gov. Gen. Mary Simon salutes after placing a wreath alongside her husband Whit Fraser during Remembrance Day services at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
“It is important to learn about the stories of soldiers, past and present,” May Simon said in a statement. “Though some stories may be hard to hear, it is our responsibility to bear witness. Our hope is that by recalling past sacrifices, we can look to a peaceful future. It is up to all of us. It is in our hands. It is our duty to keep the memory alive.”
This year’s Remembrance Day also marked the centenary of the poppy being the symbol of remembrance in this country, inspired by John McCrae’s legendary poem, “In Flanders Fields.”
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire lay a wreath of flowers as Canadian Governor General Mary May Simon and her husband Whit Fraser look on, during a ceremony at the National War Memorial on Remembrance Day in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada November 11, 2021.PATRICK DOYLE/Reuters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said 100 years later the poppy remains an unmistakable symbol of the somber day.
“Our veterans and those serving today represent the very best of what it means to be Canadian,” Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole said in a statement. “Their selflessness and courage serve as an inspiration to all of us.”
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh in a statement praised those who have served the country, and called on the government to do more to improve the lives of veterans.
“They are there to support others, whether they’re called on to care for seniors living in long-term care homes during the worst of the pandemic, or making invaluable contributions to help in global crises,” Singh said.
– The Canadian Press
10:30 a.m. ET
Watch: The Remembrance Day ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa
In Ottawa, the 2021 Remembrance Day ceremony will be held at the National War Memorial. Members of the public will be present at the ceremony, along with veterans, current military members and government officials. Governor General Mary Simon, this year’s Silver Cross Mother Josée Simard, the Prime Minister, the speakers of the House of Commons and Senate, and Minister of Veterans Affairs Lawrence MacAulay are present at the War Memorial. The ceremony is expected to begin at 10:45 a.m. ET.
9:50 a.m. ET
Canada’s political leaders mark Remembrance Day
On Twitter, Canada’s political leaders commemorated Nov. 11. “We owe so much to those who bravely serve, to our veterans, to the fallen, and to the families who love and support them,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a video message.
8:22 a.m. ET
Canadians welcome to attend Remembrance Day ceremonies
Canadians will return to cenotaphs and monuments across much of the country on Thursday morning to remember and pay their respects to those who fought and died in service of Canada.
Royal Canadian Legion spokeswoman Nujma Bond is expecting a return to some semblance of normalcy, including at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, where people are being welcomed to attend.
Royal Canadian Air Force's members march prior to a ceremony at the National War Memorial on Remembrance Day in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada November 11, 2021.PATRICK DOYLE/Reuters
Some restrictions and changes will nonetheless remain in place as COVID-19 continues to pose a threat, Bond said, with masks and physical distancing requirements in place for anyone planning to attend ceremonies.
The Legion has also again cancelled the traditional veterans’ parade in Ottawa, which has in the past seen elderly veterans from the Second World War and Korea march alongside counterparts from more recent conflicts and operations.
There had been questions ahead of this year’s event around whether the government would keep flags at half-mast, as they had been since May in memory of Indigenous children who died attending residential schools.
But the government opted on Sunday to raise the flags back up to their full height before lowering them again on Monday in honour of Indigenous Veterans Day, and they will be lowered again on Thursday.
Aside from the mask and physical distancing requirements and the decision not to have a veterans’ parade, Bond said this year’s national ceremony will include many of the elements that Canadians have come to know over the decades.
That includes a reading of the Act of Remembrance in English, French and an Indigenous language, which Bond said this year will be the Métis language of Michif.
– Lee Berthiaume, The Canadian Press
Remembrance Day 2021 in Canada
What’s open and closed across Canada
Remembrance Day is not a statutory holiday in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba or Nova Scotia. For British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, Nov. 11 is a statutory holiday. Here’s what’s open and closed across Canada.
Where are ceremonies being held across Canada?
Ontario
- In Ottawa, the annual Remembrance Day ceremony will be held at the National War Memorial and can be watched live on the Royal Canadian Legion’s Facebook page.
- In Toronto, ceremonies will be held at Toronto Old City Hall and in other locations across the city, with a livestream on the City of Toronto’s YouTube page.
British Columbia
- Most ceremonies in Vancouver will be held virtually. An event planned at Victory Square will not be open to the public, but will be live-streamed beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Alberta
- No indoor public ceremony will be held in Edmonton over COVID-19 concerns, but a small outdoor event will take place at the City Hall Plaza beginning at 10:40 a.m.
Saskatchewan
- Saskatoon’s Remembrance Day service will be broadcast beginning at 10:15 a.m. and is available to stream online.
Manitoba
- In Winnipeg, a small, blended virtual and in-person event will be held beginning at 10:15 a.m.
Quebec
- A smaller-than-normal ceremony will be held in Montreal at Place du Canada. It will not be open to the public but is available by livestream.
Atlantic Canada
- In Halifax, a ceremony will be held at City Hall from 9:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. and is open only to fully vaccinated individuals.
- In Fredericton, N.B., ceremonies will be held at Marysville and Downtown Cenotaph.
- On PEI, a scaled-back non-public ceremony will be held in Charlottetown and available on the province’s website.
- In Newfoundland, a ceremony will be held at the War Memorial in St. John’s and will be broadcast from 10:55 a.m. to 11:55 a.m.
Lowering the Canadian flag
The Canadian flag at the Peace Tower and at all federal government buildings has been lowered for since May to honour residential school survivors. The flag was raised on Sunday, lowered at sunrise on Nov. 8, for Indigenous Veterans Day, and then raised at sunset. The flag will be lowered again to mark Remembrance Day on Nov. 11, before returning to full-mast. Flags will be lowered for future National Truth and Reconciliation days, every Sept. 30.
What is Indigenous Veterans Day?
November 8 was Indigenous Veterans Day, a day to mark the contributions of First Nations, Métis and Inuit soldiers and recognize their unequal treatment. Government assistance given to others who served in the Canadian Armed Forces were denied to Indigenous soldiers.
Indigenous Veterans Day was first observed in 1994. Veterans Affairs Canada estimates that as many as 12,000 Indigenous people served in the two World Wars, including famous veterans such as Tommy Prince, Francis Pegahmagabow, or Charles “Checker” Tomkins. Veterans Affairs estimates at least 500 Indigenous Canadians lost their lives during the conflicts.
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Our live coverage of this story has ended. Read our latest from Ottawa.