Remembrance Day in Canada

**crabby** · 12-11-2009, 17:41

Just to start off - I live in a province where November 11th is a Provincial Holiday. It was amazing to see the turnout, 7000 turned out in the city I live in (population 65,000) for the Remembrance parade, 5000 turned out at the provincial cenotaph (city popn ~50,000). They seem far more supportive over here of their armed forces than was the situation in the UK, at least until recently.

However, there is a video/song doing the rounds. It was sung in church and played at the Remembrance service on the big screen (yes, there was big screen). Thoughts? Opinions?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bXGZr-IJJ4

**The_Seagull** · 13-11-2009, 02:48

I moved out here two weeks ago and went to the local service in the small town I live in (pop about 20k). I was amazed that the local arena was packed to the rafters and the excellent service which included almost all the different community groups from the local car dealer, to the Air Cadets and OB.

The Cenotaph in the city I used to work in (pop about 150,000) attracted no more than a few hundred people including local units, OB, cadets etc. Here it attracted a few thousand. That says it all really as far as I'm concerned.

I'm also amazed at the huge media reporting in relation to remembrance day out here. Apparently 24% of the population attend services.

**Canadian** · 13-11-2009, 04:11

Crabby, when did you move to Canada? Welcome! And welcome Seagull to sunny Alberta as well.

In Alberta, Remembrance Day is not a provincial holiday and many people had to work. However, here in Calgary, we had 3 venues for Remembrance Day activities and they were all very well attended. I had the honour of attending one of those venues a couple of years ago with a young British squaddie. He wore his gong from Iraq very proudly and was approached by strangers asking about it. I think that made him feel even prouder of his achievements over there. Sadly, we had a soldier from Calgary who was recently killed in Afghanistan and was buried on Monday. It made Remembrance Day even that much more relevant.

Thank you to all you ladies and gents who have or are now serving.

**Canader** · 13-11-2009, 07:29

This was filmed by the CF's 'Combat Camera', an internal news/PR service:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rombO8vc464

I liked this one. Good thing the gunman didn't run into some of the women down there...

Veteran stymies gunman seeking poppy cash

Would-be thief tussles with Toronto legionnaires, aged 84 and 64, who were sorting donations

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle1361623/

**DANJANOU** · 08-11-2010, 18:27

Rather than start a new thread, decided to resurrect this one.

For those Canadians and transplanted Brits on here, what are your plans for Thursday?

For those attending one of the numerous services in the Toronto Area, anyone who is at the East York Service and/or shows up at my Legion branch (Branch 11 East Toronto) I'd be willing to stand them a drink. God knows if its anything like last year's and/or the one this Sunday past I'll be needing a drink or six. PM for details or just show, I'll be the one at the bar after ripping what's left of my hair put probably.

Oh yeah the woman Canader describes above will be in full force.

**The_Seagull** · 08-11-2010, 18:39

Originally Posted by DANJANOU

Rather than start a new thread, decided to resurrect this one.

For those Canadian's and transplanted Brits on here, what are your plans for Thursday?

Off to the local arena in my town for the service then off to work for my evening shift.