Northern Ont. marks Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day celebrations took place across the country Monday, with Canadians reflecting on the sacrifices made by the men and women who served our country.
In North Bay, a yearly tradition of thanks took place before the ceremony started. For the third year in a row, three children -- Charleigh Giroux, 9, her brother Kolton, 6, and friend Adrianna Lamarche-Jones -- went row by row, handing out cards and painted rocks to veterans, cadets and service men and women.
In North Bay, a yearly tradition of thanks took place before the ceremony started. For the third year in a row, three children -- Charleigh Giroux, 9, her brother Kolton, 6, and friend Adrianna Lamarche-Jones -- went row by row, handing out cards and painted rocks to veterans, cadets and service men and women. (Eric Taschner/CTV News)
"It’s to say thank you to the people who served in the war and their families," Charleigh Giroux said.
"It makes me feel really nice to give out the cards," Lamarche-Jones added.
The rocks and cards were made by children who attend the EarlyON Child & Family Centres in the District of Nipissing.
During the ceremony, the crowd at Memorial Gardens fell silent as the notes of The Last Post rang out.
Retired Warrant Officer Gordon Edwards said he joined the military when he was 16 and served in field units.
"I spent three tours in Germany with the Berlin Wall and the Cuban crisis, two tours in Cyprus," he told reporters.
The lessons of love and peace the veterans and servicemen and women want to express is that today’s 'soldier' is anyone who advocates for justice, hope, and a bright future for all.
"The soldier is everybody. It doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be in uniform," Edwards said.
"Soldiers are the people who look for peace."
- Download the CTV News app now
- Get local breaking news alerts
- Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
North Bay has a significant military legacy, from those who went overseas in times of war, to the nearly 500 men and women still serving today at 22 Wing/Canadian Forces Base who protect North America's skies.
"In today’s political environment around the world, I think I would be wrong to say the world has not been this unstable in a long time," Wing Commander Colonel Joseph Oldford said.
As another Remembrance Day comes to an end, the turnout of about 2,000 people in North Bay serves as a reminder that this city will never forget.
Sault Ste. Marie
In Sault Ste. Marie, hundreds gathered at the GFL Memorial Gardens for the yearly Remembrance Day ceremony.
Members from all branches of the Canadian military, as well as public servants, were on hand for the event.
Songs of honour were played, as well as traditional First Nations drumming to remember Indigenous veterans.
Silver Cross mother Donna Crosson did the opening wreath laying. Crosson's son, Sgt. John Wayne Faught, died in Afghanistan in 2010.
It's a hard day
The day is hard for her, but she said it's important to remember those who passed and what their sacrifice represents.
"There's so much war away, just about everywhere in the rest of the world," Crosson said.
"The peace that we are enjoying now … we should relish it. And really, really think about what would we do without our soldiers."
Legion Branch 25 president Pierre Breckenridge said war is still very much a sad reality.
"If you turn on any news channel, you'll see, the conflicts, front and centre," Breckenridge said.
"What I would prefer people keep in their minds and thoughts are those brave men and women who are serving in the Canadian Armed Forces to defend democracy. And that's what I would like them to remember because those people are putting themselves in harm's way every day."
Cory Nordstrom
Dozens of people gathered at the cenotaphs in South Porcupine and Timmins on Monday for Remembrance Day ceremonies in honour of those who’ve fought in major wars and those who’ve picked up where they’ve left off. (Lydia Chubak/CTV News)
Timmins
Despite the unforgiving wet snow in Timmins on Remembrance Day, dozens of people gathered at the cenotaphs in South Porcupine and Timmins to pay their respects to those who’ve fought in major wars and to those who’ve picked up where they’ve left off.
The ceremony in Timmins always begins with a march from the Algonquin Regiment’s Cassidy Armoury to the cenotaph in Hollinger Park.
It’s an opportunity for the public to see the many people in uniforms who are committed to serving the country in one way or another.
One man from Moose Factory said the weather never scares him from committing to attend the Remembrance Day memorial.
"Well, everybody's coming to honour the people that went to war for us in the past couple of world wars," said George Moore.
"And we come every year, rain or shine. We stand proud, and we're honouring them … My dad, my grandpa, his brothers and uncles and grandpa and friends all over James Bay. There was a lot of them."
Lydia Chubak
There was a good turnout for the main public Remembrance Day service at the municipal arena in downtown Sudbury. The public service was organized by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 76. (Angela Gemmill/CTV News)
Sudbury
There was a good turnout for the main public Remembrance Day service at the municipal arena in downtown Sudbury. The public service was organized by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 76.
Uniforms of every colour marched into the Sudbury Arena for the service, which honours those who served to defend the freedom enjoyed by all Canadians today.
"I think some of our people here in Canada have started to take things for granted and we need to look at what’s going on in the world around us," said Bernadette Lamirande with Royal Canadian Legion Branch 76.
Enjoy our freedom
"We can marry who we want, we can speak the language we want, we are not limited to where we live due to our religion. So, I think we need to remember we are very lucky living in the country we are living in."
The 2nd Batallion Irish Regiment has a long history in Sudbury. Those who are a part of this military branch of the Canadian Armed Forced said they are more than a reserve unit.
"We’re not just reserves. I lost five friends over in Afghanistan. We’re not just weekend soldiers no more," said Master-Corp. Fred Domonsky
"It’s heartbreaking for all of us that we lose them all, and that they are fallen soldiers," said Pte. Slowco 'Jerry’' Pihursky.
"It’s very hurtful, but we manage and coming here, appearing here today is very important, for all of us."
Both men said serving one’s country doesn’t have to mean fighting in a conflict overseas.
"We’re there to help with fires and emergencies and to help the public right here in town where we live," Domonsky said.
Later this week, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 76 will make public how much money was collected from its annual Poppy campaign in Sudbury.
The money goes towards local charities, particularly ones that help veterans. Last year it raised $60,000.
Angela Gemmill
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ottawa has sold its stake in Air Canada: sources
Two senior federal government sources have confirmed to CTV News that the federal government has sold its stake in Air Canada. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the government purchased a six per cent stake in the airline for $500 million as part of a bailout package.
Premiers disagree on whether Canada should cut off energy supply to U.S. if Trump moves ahead with tariffs
Some of Canada's premiers appeared to disagree with Ontario Premier Doug Ford on his approach to retaliatory measures, less than a day after he threatened to cut off the province's energy supply to the U.S. if president-elect Donald Trump follows through on his threat of punishing tariffs.
BREAKING B.C. carjacking suspect illegally crossed U.S. border before arrest, police say
Authorities have arrested a suspect who allegedly carjacked a pickup truck in B.C.'s Lower Mainland on Thursday, then illegally crossed the U.S. border.
She took a DNA test for fun. Police used it to charge her grandmother with murder in a cold case
According to court documents, detectives reopened the cold case in 2017 and then worked with a forensics company to extract DNA from Baby Garnet's partial femur, before sending the results to Identifinders International.
Travis Vader, killer of Lyle and Marie McCann, denied day parole
The man who killed an Alberta couple in 2010 has been denied day parole.
McDonald's employee who called 911 in CEO's shooting is eligible for reward, but it will take time
More than 400 tips were called into the New York Police Department's Crime Stoppers tip line during the five-day search for a masked gunman who ambushed and fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last week.
Man who set fires inside Calgary's municipal building lost testicle during arrest: ASIRT
Two Calgary police officers have been cleared of any wrongdoing in an incident that saw a suspect lose a testicle after being shot with an anti-riot weapon.
Country star Morgan Wallen sentenced in chair-throwing case
Country music star Morgan Wallen on Thursday pleaded guilty to two misdemeanour counts of reckless endangerment for throwing a chair from the rooftop of a six-storey bar in Nashville and nearly hitting two police officers with it.
Taylor Swift's 'Eras Tour' concerts cost Toronto Police about $1.9 million
Remember Taylor Swift's police motorcades while she performed her six-show series in Toronto last month? Toronto police revealed on Thursday that the popstar's sold-out performances, including her motorcade, cost them about 1.9 million.