Regardless of age, race, or religion, every Canadian has been impacted by war.
Whether that's directly or indirectly, life as we know it in Canada wouldn't exist if it weren't the country's brave men and women who fought, and continue to fight, for our freedom. On Nov. 11, hundreds of Bonnyville residents will come together in remembrance to honour them.
“There are people that say, those who forget the past are condemned to commit the same thing again. I think it's always important to remember so perhaps it won't happen again,” said Dan Gates, president of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 183 in Bonnyville.
Originally called Armistice Day, a day of remembrance was first inaugurated in 1919 to mark the end of fighting during the First World War. It was held on the second Monday in November throughout much of the British Empire.
By 1921, the Canadian Parliament had passed an Armistice Day bill for it to be observed on the first Monday in the week of Nov. 11. However, there was still little recognition of the day by Canadians, with the exception of veterans and their families who would gather at local churches and memorials to pay their respects.
It wasn't until 1928, when a group of citizens, many of whom were veterans, lobbied for greater public recognition and to separate a day of remembrance from the Thanksgiving holiday, which at the time was celebrated at the beginning of November. Subsequently, in 1931, the Government of Canada proclaimed Nov. 11 as the newly-named Remembrance Day, and moved Thanksgiving to October.
For over eight decades now, across the country ceremonies are held in communities large and small to honour the fallen and reflect on the cause they fought so fervently for.
In Bonnyville, the local branch of the legion has kept remembrance alive through ceremonies on Nov. 11 for the past 70 years.
Starting at 10:30 a.m., local veterans will fall in to the Centennial Centre, along with current serving members of Canada's military from 4 Wing Cold Lake. There will be the traditional moment of silence, as well as the last post and the lament.
Gates expressed that in addition to honouring those who have fallen fighting for the country, the ceremony is also an opportunity to meet with local veterans.
“I'm really impressed,” Gates said of the turnout for the Remembrance Day ceremony. “I'm not originally from this town, and I grew up in the 70s when a lot of people didn't really seem to care about it. Now, it's so great to see so many people in this town going to the ceremony. To see so many that it's standing room only is amazing. I don't know, maybe it's a small town thing, but I'm so impressed with it.”
Not only has the legion received strong support from local residents for the ceremony itself. In the weeks leading up to Remembrance Day, the legion has been distributing an iconic symbol of remembrance, the poppy.
“This town's been very generous, and no veteran has had to go without any service they require from what we've seen,” noted Gates, adding that the credit also goes to their service officer for ensuring the poppy campaign funds get distributed.
“Our service officer does a great job at ensuring she finds as many veterans as she can in the area, and she ensures they get the services that they require.”
The dollars raised through poppies goes directly back to veterans. Locally, the funds have been used for projects such as replacing a porch on a Second World War veteran's house because it kept icing over, installing a stair lift to allow a veteran to access the second floor of their home, as well as other projects to make veterans' lives easier.
Poppy boxes can be found at various local businesses leading up to Nov. 11. The Bonnyville legion's Remembrance Day ceremony will take place at the Centennial Centre, with spectators asked to be seated by 10 a.m.
A reception will follow the ceremony at the Bonnyville legion.
