On Remembrance Day, we stop to remember those who fought for our freedom and those who continue to serve Canada.
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians paused for two minutes of silence.
Ceremonies were held across Toronto, including a sunrise ceremony that took place Tuesday morning at Prospect Cemetery in the city’s west end.
Prospect Cemetery, located on St. Clair Avenue West near Lansdowne Avenue, is the resting place for more than 5,300 Canadian and Allied veterans. The ceremony got underway at 8 a.m. with the parade of veterans, Legion members and first responders, and included the last post.
Remembrance Day ceremonies were also held at Old City Hall Cenotaph at Queen Street West and Bay Street and at the Veterans’ Memorial at Queen’s Park.
This Remembrance Day marks eight decades since the conclusion of the Second World War and 25 years since the entombment of Canada’s Unknown Soldier, a First World War combatant who remains unidentified.
A ceremony was also held at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, with Prime Minister Mark Carney and his wife Diana among those in attendance.
Earlier in the day, Carney issued a statement, saying that the day honours those who “sacrificed years away from loved ones,” those who returned from combat forever changed, and those who never came back at all.
“We pause to remember those acts of heroic service. We remember that our rights, our freedoms, our way of life were fought for and were won by Canadians who answer the call,” he said.
Gov. Gen. Mary Simon was absent from the ceremony as she recovered from a respiratory virus in hospital. Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Wagner stepped in to preside over the ceremony in Ottawa in her place.
This year’s National Silver Cross Mother, Nancy Payne, whose son was killed in Afghanistan in 2006, will lay a wreath on behalf of Canadian mothers who lost their children due to military service.