Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is a day to remember and honour those who served Canada and those who continue to serve today, in times of war, military conflict, and peace. We remain committed to telling their stories. We encourage everyone – young and old – to pause, to give thanks, and to remember and honour their sacrifices.
For over 100 years, millions of Canadians have proudly served our country in uniform. They’ve built peace, defended democracy, and enabled countless people to live in freedom – at home and around the world.
Poppy Campaign
This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the Remembrance Poppy in Canada. A symbol that makes Canadians proud, the Poppy is synonymous with honouring our Veterans. Yesterday, Minister of Veterans Affairs Lawrence MacAulay and I visited the Royal Canadian Legion Dominion Command to check out their ‘Pay Tribute’ boxes.
Visiting the Royal Canadian Legion Dominion Command with the Hon. Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs.
These new boxes give Canadians the opportunity to support our Veterans in a safe and contactless way. It also allows the Legion to safely carry on their important Poppy fundraising campaign despite the pandemic.
While the Poppy is distributed freely to all who wish to wear one, the Legion gratefully accepts donations to the Poppy Fund. Did you know? Close to 20 million dollars are donated during the National Poppy Campaign each year.
One of the new ‘Pay Tribute’ donation boxes, on display at the Royal Canadian Legion Dominion Command.
Indigenous Veterans Day
A few days ago, on November 8th, Canada celebrated Indigenous Veterans Day, a national day in recognition and to remember more than 200 years of military service by First Nation, Metis, and Inuit communities.
Indigenous people have a long military history in the formation of Canada. More than 4,000 Indigenous people served in uniform during the First World War, and over 3,000 Indigenous people served in World War Two. On each occasion, Canada's Indigenous soldiers overcame cultural challenges and made impressive sacrifices and contributions to help the nation in its efforts to restore world peace. It was an incredible response consistent with a remarkable tradition.
Canada recognizes in many ways the important contributions made by Indigenous veterans in defending our shared values and fundamental freedoms. This includes the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument in Ottawa, which commemorates their long tradition of military service. As we continue to walk the shared path of reconciliation, the government is working to ensure that all Indigenous veterans receive the recognition, the support, and the care they deserve.
Remembrance Day Ceremonies
The pandemic will likely affect our commemoration plans, with in-person events possibly being scaled back or happening virtually. No matter how we hold our remembrance ceremonies, our goal will always be to honour the remarkable legacies that our service people have built over the course of Canada’s long military history.
At 11:00 a.m. tomorrow, I encourage everyone to observe the two minutes of silence in recognition of the brave Canadians who fought for us. We thank our service members, past and present, for all they have done to keep us and people around the world safe. They represent the very best of what it means to be Canadian.
Lest we forget.
