NORTH BAY -- Weeks in the making, students and staff at St. Joseph-Scollard Hall put out a 40-minute video honouring current and past veterans in time for Remembrance Day.

“With the help of our staff and a couple of students, they decided to put together a compilation of past performances and some current pieces, as well, just to highlight the importance of Remembrance Day,” said principal Derek Belanger.

Although the school couldn’t gather together as it has done in the past, the YouTube video was shown in classrooms Wednesday and a moment of silence still took place across the entire school.

“I’m proud that our students see the importance and recognize the importance of still holding that traditional alive,” Belanger said.

Same importance

Even though Nov. 11 looked different this year, students said it still held the same importance.

“As we are, you know, moving further and further from the wars – like, we’re losing more and more of our veterans every year,” said Grade 10 student Jude Zappala. “It’s really important to still remember, like, their stories, even as they’re passing away. So we just need to really continue the tradition so we don’t forget.”

Zappala recorded two songs for the video, one of which was filmed at the North Bay Cenotaph.

“One is called 'My Youngest Son Came Home Today.' It’s kind of like a stark, somber, nice edition to the video,” he explains. “I really think it captured the feeling that some of the parents of, you know, the students that were going to war, like, that were our age would have felt, you know, to know that their kid might not be coming home.”

A total of 352 men from Scollard Hall enlisted during the Second World War, with 31 of them never returning home. A commemorative plaque is now permanently displayed at the school to help remember all the men with crosses beside the 31 who died at war.

Students went to war

“We had 31 students who went off to the war and did not come back and that’s really powerful for the students who see pictures of those students, at this school, in that building that are their age that went off and didn’t come back,” said Belanger. “So there’s a real connection there and a deep appreciation for that. So really special for us as a school.”

Although the in-person ceremony will be missed by staff and students at the school this year, Grade 12 student Idunnuaya Alabi said moving Remembrance Day to an online platform actually had some significant benefits.

“I organized a bunch of students and I participated in a small video where we talked about the minorities' contribution in Canada. We wanted to recognize them and their work,” she said.

Minorities aren’t usually talked about during Remembrance Day ceremonies, Alabi said, and it was special for her to be included and help shine a light on everyone who made sacrifices.

“My great great grandfather was in the war and he fought with the British in the Indian war and his parts weren’t really (honoured) and I wanted to make sure everyone has the chance to be recognized,” she said.

Both staff and students said the online platform gave them a chance to reach even more people in the community. Tat's something Zappala said is especially important this year.

“It’s a little sad to see articles and stuff about how, you know, less people are planning to go to ceremonies or even wear a poppy this year," he said. "So I think it’s just a really good thing that we can still continue the tradition this way.”

Courage and sacrifice

“It’s important to acknowledge the courage and the sacrifice for the people who served in our country in the wars because they fought and died for us in the wars and our liberty and our peace," Alabi added. "So I think it’s very important that we recognize that because that’s how I am able to stand here today.”

As for the future, Belanger hopes in-person gatherings will be possible again and a traditional assembly will take place next year. However, he is hoping they can find a way to do something both online and in person moving forward.

“I still think there’s a power in coming together, it’s certainly important, it’s important to be there in person,” he said. “But I think we’ve seen the benefits of some of the virtual aspects, as well. So I certainly think going forward we may look to see how we can combine both of them to have something here in school, but also have something to share with out community, as well.”

A link to the video can be found here.