Remembrance Day in Canada: A Moment to Reflect, Remember, and Renew Our Gratitude

Every year on November 11, Canadians pause for a moment of silence to honor those who served and sacrificed in times of war, conflict, and peacekeeping.

From the battlefields of Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele to Afghanistan and modern UN missions, Remembrance Day stands as a solemn reminder that the freedoms we enjoy were paid for with courage, pain, and loss.

At 11:00 a.m., the country slows down. Work stops, traffic quiets, and people stand together to reflect.

The poppy, inspired by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae’s poem In Flanders Fields, remains the most visible symbol of remembrance.

Its red petals remind us of the blood shed in war, while its black center represents grief and the resilience of those left behind.

Remembrance Day is not just about the past, but also about the present and future. It is a call to remember that peace is fragile, that democracy requires vigilance, and that we have a duty to uphold the values that generations before us fought to protect.

Across Canada, from small-town cenotaphs to national memorials, veterans, families, and citizens gather to lay wreaths, recite the Act of Remembrance, and reaffirm our collective promise: “We will remember them.”

As you go about your day today, take a moment to pause. Reflect on the sacrifices made, the lessons learned, and the responsibility each of us carries to build a more peaceful and just world.

Lest we forget.