Thousands of British Columbians gathered in downtown Vancouver Saturday for the 99th annual Remembrance Day ceremony.
The massive ceremony was held at the Victory Square Cenotaph on West Hastings Street.
“On this day we respectfully commemorate the memory of those who gave their lives in the service of our country in Canada’s wars and peacekeeping missions, and those who returned safely to their families,” said James Stanton, Vancouver Remembrance Day Committee’s director of ceremonies.
According to the city, the Remembrance Day service is the oldest continuing and annual ceremony in Vancouver.
It was first started in 1924 by the Vancouver Remembrance Day Committee, a civic volunteer group.
The ceremony started with a performance from the Vancouver Bach Family of Choirs as they sang White Cliffs of Dover.
“On this hallowed day we pause to remember what is often called Canada’s ‘Forgotten War,’” Stanton said.
“From 1950-1953, as part of a United Nations force, more than 26,000 Canadians served in the Korean War. Korea remains Canada’s third-bloodiest overseas conflict, taking the lives of 516 Canadians and wounding more than 1,200. Seventy years ago, a ceasefire was declared.
“We will not forget these young soldiers who bravely fought for peace.”
The Vancouver Fire Rescue Service and the Pipes and Drums of the Seaforth Highlanders, accompanied by the singers from the Vancouver Bach Family of Choirs, combined for a performance of Hallelujah.
Each year an original poem, written by a Vancouver area school student, is selected as the winner of the Cam Cathcart Youth Poem of Remembrance Award.
The program is named in honor of Cameron Cathcart, a longtime director of ceremonies and former chair of the Vancouver Remembrance Day Committee.
Jacqueline Murray was selected as the winner of the 2023 contest.
The solemn ceremony also included the Last Post, the Lament, the fly-past, the change of the guard, the wreath-laying, the parade of veterans, military units, cadets, police, brass bands, and pipes and drums, and is befitting for the many tearful private moments of remembrance.
Every year more than 15,000 participants and citizens attend the ceremony, according to the city.
Other Remembrance Day events were also held in Vancouver at the Chinese Canadian Memorial, Japanese Canadian Monument, Grandview Park, Portside Park on Burrard Inlet, Royal Vancouver Yacht Club and South Memorial Park.
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