Canadians will pause tomorrow at the eleventh minute, of the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of November, many gathering to reflect on the call to duty of those through the last century who have sacrificed their lives in service for their country.
In addition to our annual look to the past, those pausing to remember at 11 AM, will be providing a salute not only for those that have served the nation in the wars of the past, but for those who today uphold our military commitments and perform our law enforcement services across the nation.
As they are every year, ceremonies of Remembrance will be held both in the national capital and in cities and towns, large and small across the nation tomorrow.
As well, our focus will once again turn to France, where this year Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will join other world leaders to commemorate the end of the First World War.
Among the many services of remembrance this weekend, this morning the Prime Minister paid his tributes to the fallen at what is Canada's own patch of Sacred Ground in France, that of the Vimy memorial.
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| (Photo from Government of Canada) |
The Paris events of commemoration for Remembrance Day will be broadcast in the early morning hours of Sunday, while the Ottawa ceremony, will be nationally broadcast on all of the major network and news channels starting at 7 AM British Columbia time.
This years Remembrance Day marks a significant milestone for the nation, heralding the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, the War to end all wars as it was described a the time.
That, an observation that did not stand the test of time, followed through the next 100 years with conflicts that took Canadians back to Europe to fight fascism from 1939-1944, and then on to Korea, the Balkans, Middle East and Afghanistan as the calendar years would flip over and over.
Beyond the battle front engagements, Canadians have also contributed to a long list of peace keeping missions through the years, travels to the worlds places of conflict that came with their own dangers and sacrifices.
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| Prince Rupert residents will gather at the Court House on Sunday, marking the 100th Anniversary of the end of the First World War among their remembrances of sacrifice over the years |
In Prince Rupert, the local Remembrance Day ceremony will take place at the Court House cenotaph, with the march past to the Court House starting at 10:45, the wreath laying ceremony should start at 11 AM.
As part of the commemoration there will be benedictions, music, the lowering of the flag, as well as the playing of the last post and then the march off from the Court House.
Residents of Port Edward will also be holding their own Remembrance Day ceremonies centred around the District Office and Community Hall.
Through the week, students from SD52 explored the history of the sacrifices of Canadians through the last 100 years, with special projects and observances held at schools District wide.
The theme of Remembrance noted through the SD 52 Newsletter this week.
Students of Annunciation, the City's Independent School also observed the days leading up to Remembrance Day this Sunday with their own remembrances.
CBC Daybreak North and the Northern View have both provided for a number of interesting snapshots of the importance of remembrance this week, while CityWest Community Television will be airing special programming through the day Sunday, as well as live coverage of the Terrace commemoration on Sunday morning.
Those looking to spend some time this weekend to reflect and review the sacrifice that Remembrance Day provides for can make use of a number of online resources for their journey.
Veterans Affairs Canada introduced the background for this years 100th remembrance of the end of World War One, calling on the theme of freedom for us to take time to pause and remember.
More of their video library in honour of those who served can be found here.
Veterans Affairs Canada has also been profiling some of the historical moments of the nations military heritage, making available a number of links for Canadians to explore.
A Closer Look
Heroes Remember
A Day of Remembrance
Canada's Military History
Postcards for Peace
Profiles of Courage
One important historical feature to take time to review is the online version of the Books of Remembrance, the moving listings of Canada's War Dead that can be found in the Peace Tower of the Centre Block of Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
The Virtual War Memorial an online reference provides the opportunity for Canadians to search the books or to seek out information through a search engine.
You can explore that resource page here.
The National Film Board is also providing a number of their films and documentaries on Canada's past war efforts, peace keeping missions and other areas of interest related to Canada's military.
The front page of the NFB site offers the links to a variety of options that can add to your awareness of Remembrance Day and why we pause to reflect.
Social media is also marking the Remembrance Day observations, with #CanadaRemembers a good place to start your search on relevant items of remembrance for the weekend.
As the focus for this year is that of the end of the First World War, there have been many short vignettes presented to mark some of the pivotal moments of that war.
That milestones from Canada's First World war contingent have been observed through a number of ways, with the Veteran's Affairs website making for a good starting point.
YouTube also offers up a range of background material to learn more about the battle,
And for those that haven't seen it yet, the 2008 feature film Passchendaele from Canadian film maker Paul Gross, available through iTunes, puts the battle into focus through characters both home and on the field of battle.
If you're in the downtown area tomorrow, stop by the Cenotaph either during the commemoration ceremony or later in the day to provide for your own tribute.
For residents of the North Coast, a stop at the Royal Canadian Legion at 812 Third Avenue West for their annual Open House, will also offer up a glimpse at the history of those who left Prince Rupert to answer the calls of the nation, the displays at the front of the building a testimony to their courage and sacrifice.
On Remembrance Day the Prince Rupert Court House Lawn continues to make for a very special place for reflection on the sacrifice of those of the past, which ensured that we can enjoy our freedoms of today.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.
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