Saturday, November 10 ~ WEST SHORE.
On Sunday November 11 there will be Remembrance Day ceremonies across Canada, with several in the west shore area of Vancouver Island.
LANGFORD. One of the largest gatherings is at the Veterans Memorial Park in Langford, at which about 1,000 people attended last year. Starting with a parade that leaves the Langford Legion #91 at 10 am makes its way over to the park at Veterans Memorial Parkway and Goldstream Avenue for 10:15 am where people will gather for a 10:30 start and two minutes silence at 11 am. The ceremony will be followed by an open house at the Langford Legion at 761 Station Avenue. | Traffic Advisory for Langford core
The weather forecast is for clear skies for November 11, 2018.
COLWOOD. In Colwood a small ceremony will take place Nov. 11 at 11 am at the cenotaph located in the garden bed with the large oak tree next to the Juan de Fuca arena at 1767 Island Highway. The City of Colwood and the local Legion Branch 91 have both expressed an interest in exploring options to have the Colwood cenotaph restored and moved to another location where gatherings can be held.
Also in Colwood, a small ceremony will be held at 10:40 am at Hatley Castle, 2005 Sooke Rd (with the Royal Roads University campus), followed by refreshments. Hosted by the Vancouver Island Ex-Cadet Club.
At 4 pm in Colwood at Fort Rodd Hill & Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site at 603 Fort Rodd Hill there will be a small gathering. There will be stories told about the last 100 days of the most devastating war in history and the reasons for our Remembrance traditions from local military re-enactors and other community groups. At 4:30 pm, bells will ring out there and across Canada to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War. Crafts and hot chocolate.
SOOKE. In Sooke the annual Remembrance Day gathering is held at the Sooke Cenotaph alongside Sooke Legion Branch #54 at 6726 Eustace Road in town center. A sizable crowd gathers each year by 10:30 am, for two minutes silence at 11 am at the laying of wreaths by or on behalf of a wide range of community members. The event is usually attended by the mayor and VIPs from around the region.
NATIONAL. This year 2018 marks the hundredth anniversary of the end of World War 1 and the Armistice declared at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in France to honour the solemn anniversary, including a visit to Vimy Ridge.
Since November 11, 1918 as a nation Canada has stopped on November 11 each year to remember the sacrifices made by ordinary men and women in the field of battle at the same time each year, wearing poppies, and pause for two minutes of silence at 11 am to remember.
The Remembrance Day tradition dates back to the First World War when the guns fell silent, marking the end of military conflict and the Remembrance of those who would never return home. The Legion’s National Poppy and Remembrance Campaign raise funds for veterans and their families, the new military and others who are disadvantaged.