Canadians are marking Remembrance Day with events across the country honouring veterans who served in war and those who sacrificed their lives serving the nation.
In the capital, Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon attended an annual ceremony at the National War Memorial on Monday morning.
Minister of Veterans Affairs Ginette Petitpas Taylor and Gen. Jennie Carignan, Canada’s chief of defence staff, were also in attendance.
Trudeau said in a statement that paying tribute to those who have served the nation on Remembrance Day is not just a tradition but an obligation.
“Today, we honour the Canadians who have served and defended our country. We share their stories of undaunted bravery. We remember,” he said.
“Canadian Armed Forces members continue to serve to this day – during wildfires and floods, in remote search and rescues, training our Ukrainian friends, and standing guard for our country and continent.
“When our friends and Allies see the Maple Leaf emblazoned on a uniform, they see a legacy of courage that has kept the world safe and prosperous.”
This year’s Silver Cross Mother, Maureen Anderson from New Brunswick, whose two sons, Sgt. Ron Anderson and Sgt. Ryan Anderson, both served in Afghanistan, also attended the ceremony in Ottawa.
Anderson, whose sons both died after a battle with post-traumatic stress disorder, represented the mothers left behind by all service members killed in the line of duty.
In a recent interview with Global News, Anderson said being chosen as the Legion’s 2024 National Silver Cross Mother has been overwhelming, but also a great honour.
In 2021, a total of 97,625 Canadians were serving in the Canadian Armed Forces as members of the regular force or primary reserve force, and 461,240 Canadians were counted as veterans, according to the most recent census data from Statistics Canada.
In her Remembrance Day message, Simon said: “We commend our veterans and members of the Canadian Armed Forces for their steadfast bravery and deep sense of duty, which have earned them the highest respect of our nation and our allies worldwide.”
“As we take a moment to reflect and remember, let us learn from the lessons of the past and work towards a future of peace and understanding. To those who have fallen, Canada remembers.”
This year’s event in Ottawa featured a full Veterans’ March, the Last Post, a 21-gun salute, and wreath placements. A two-minute silence was observed at 11 a.m. eastern.
The ceremony also included a special fly-past of vintage aircraft, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Gen. Jennie Carignan, who became Canada’s first female chief of defence staff earlier this year, said Remembrance Day was a time to reflect and be grateful for the services of our predecessors.
“We are standing on the shoulders of many, many other great Canadians who have served prior to us and have given so much in defence of Canada and Canadians,” she told Global News’ Mercedes Stephenson at the Ottawa ceremony.
Carignan said the Canadian military is “undergoing sustained transformation” with recruitment as the main priority.
“We need to make sure that we go back to our full complement of people to be able again to onboard all of these capabilities that are coming our way,” she said.
Canadians also gathered for Remembrance Day events in other cities and towns across the country.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland attended a ceremony and laid a wreath in Toronto.
Several dignitaries, including the Premier of Quebec and the Mayor of Montreal, participated in a Remembrance Day ceremony in downtown Montreal.
It was the first Remembrance Day in St. John’s, N.L., to be held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The soldier fought and died in France during the First World War, and was reinterred in Newfoundland this year.
Joanne Geddes, district commander of the Nova Scotia and Nunavut legions, said she was touched to see how many people of all ages paid their respects despite wind and rain at the cenotaph in Halifax’s Grand Parade.
Hearing the bands play and the cannons ring out brought on chills, Geddes said.
“I get goosebumps. I well up. It’s emotional in a good way, in a sad way.”
Opposition leaders also issued statements, paying tribute to Canadian veterans and current members of the Canadian Armed Forces.
“We honour and salute our living veterans of all conflicts, including the many who returned with wounds seen and unseen,” Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said.
“And we recall the spirit of integrity, duty and patriotism that has motivated brave Canadians in every time and place. The torch is ours to hold it high.”
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said “there’s still a lot of work to do to make sure that Canada’s veterans get the respect and dignity they deserve.”
“For me, respecting veterans includes ensuring they have the trauma-informed care, health care, mental health care, pensions and supportive services they deserve, as soon as they need them,” he said in a statement.
— with files from The Canadian Press