Toronto marked Remembrance Day with several services and events across the city on Wednesday.
On the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour, Canadians stopped and maintained a moment of silence for two minutes to reflect about Canada’s veterans.
READ MORE: What’s open and closed in Toronto on Remembrance Day
Thousands of flags were once again planted overnight on the lawns in front of the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre — a patriotic sea of red and white to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Toronto Mayor John Tory delivered remarks as part of a ceremony in front of the cenotaph at Old City Hall in downtown Toronto.
“Each and every year we are reminded of all the enormous sacrifices made by Canadian men, women and their families,” Tory said. “We are reminded of those who have served in the First World War, the Second World War, the Korea War, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and other conflicts and on many peacekeeping missions around the world.”
A few blocks away, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne took part in a ceremony at Queen’s Park.
READ MORE: Remembrance Day 2016: A portrait of soldier Herbert Hayes
Meanwhile, a number of Remembrance Day events were held across the country.
The most prominent event was in Ottawa where Gov. Gen David Johnston and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were among those in attendance at the National War Memorial.
A British Columbia woman who lost a son during the conflict in Afghanistan was picked as this year’s Silver Cross Mother.
Colleen Fitzpatrick placed a wreath on behalf of all Canadian mothers with a child in the military who died in the line of duty.
Her son Cpl. Darren Fitzpatrick died in Afghanistan in 2010 when he stepped on an explosive device.
-With a file from The Canadian Press
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