Remembrance Day 2020 – Virtual Ceremonies and How to Show Your Support

Remembrance Day may look a little different this year, but there are still many ways we can show our support and appreciation for Canada’s veterans.

The Poppy Store

Why not show your support all year long with the many commemorative items, clothing, jewellry and more at https://www.poppystore.ca.

Virtual Poppy Drop

This visual display of Remembrance features over 100,000 poppies, one for each of Canada’s Fallen, as they cascade down Centre Block on Parliament Hill; on now, each evening from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. until November 11th at midnight.

The National Ceremony

For the first time, the Royal Canadian Legion is asking the public to pay their respects virtually instead of in person for The National Remembrance Day Ceremony that takes place every year in downtown Ottawa. The ceremony will start at 10:45 am and you can watch Live on Facebook.

You should also keep your eyes on the sky! In partnership with Veterans Affairs Canada, The Royal Canadian Legion has arranged a fly-past of three heritage planes that were essential aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) during the Second World War.

For more information on the complete National Ceremony, please visit https://www.legion.ca/remembrance/remembrance-day/the-national-ceremony.

Virtual Wall of Honour

Canadians have been “building” this virtual wall of photographs of Veterans who have now passed. It is a way for all Canadians to pay tribute to their service. For more information, visit https://www.legion.ca/remembrance/promoting-remembrance/virtual-wall-of-honour.

Beechwood Cemetery

The 2020 Beechwood’s Remembrance Day Ceremony will be conducted live at the National Military Cemetery on the 11th November 2020. Beechwood will be broadcasting the ceremony live on facebook.com/NMCBeechwood starting at 10:45 AM. For more information, please visit http://www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/foundation/events/virtual-annual-remembrance-day-service.

Kanata

A short ceremony will be held at the Cenotaph, Village Green Memorial Park, Colchester Square to honour the Veterans and their sacrifices. It is requested there be no spectators and that they watch the National Ceremony from home. To pre-purchase a wreath please contact George at 613-836-2530 or treasurer.rclbr638@gmail.com and it will be prepositioned before the ceremony. For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/Kanata-Legion-748442661918774.

Navan

In lieu of a ceremony, you can view a virtual Remembrance Day Service from Navan, Ontarioa at https://youtu.be/0rMTGkfNlGI.

Orleans

Royal Canadian Legion, Orleans 632 will be holding a ceremony this year to be covered by Rogers. For more information, please visit https://www.rcl632.ca/remembrance-activities.

Stittsville

There will be no ceremony in Stittsville this year. You can make a donation to help them continue to serve veterans you can do so by looking for the Poppy Campaign boxes. You may also donate directly via Poppyfund618@rogers.com.

Richmond Legion

With Remembrance Day approaching, you may have noticed that there are white crosses at certain graves within the cemeteries of Richmond, Munster Hamlet and Dwyer Hill. These crosses are placed by members of the Richmond and District Royal Canadian Legion Branch #625 to mark veterans graves. These veterans served in the War of 1812, the Fenian Raids, the First and Second World Wars, Peacekeeping operations, the Cold War, or served with the Canadian Armed Forces. To learn more, please visit http://www.richmondlegion.ca.

2019 Ottawa Remembrance Day Ceremonies

Remembrance Day is a great opportunity to find a ceremony or parade to attend as a family.  To help coordinate, here is a list of Remembrance Day events and ceremonies in Ottawa:

Virtual Poppy Drop

This visual display of Remembrance features over 100,000 poppies, one for each of Canada’s Fallen, as they cascade down Centre Block on Parliament Hill; on now, each evening from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. until November 11th at midnight.

Ceremonies on November 11, 2019

• Beechwood Cemetery, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa - 10:30 am to noon. Military members of the National Capital Region and their families and friends are invited to observe the Remembrance Day Ceremony at the National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Forces (NMC) on Monday, November 11th, 1030hrs. Military members should be dressed in service dress 1A, issued raincoat, or gabardine & black gloves depending on weather conditions.
  

• Kanata – 11 am at the Village Green Memorial park (where the Cenotaph is located) in Colchester Square. Reception after the ceremony at the Kanata Legion (70 HInes Road)
  

• Manotick Cenotaph – 11 am to noon on Monday, November 11th; located at 1125 Johnston Clapp Lane.
  

• National War Memorial – Tens of thousands of spectators experience the ceremony from all around the National War Memorial so arriving early helps to get a good vantage point. You can also view the ceremony on the jumbo screens set up around the Memorial with numerous speakers broadcasting the audio of the entire ceremony.

  From 9:00 – 10:00 am, the Legion's Virtual Wall of Honour and Remembrance will be displayed on these screens. Canadians have been “building” this virtual wall of photographs of Veterans who have now passed. It is a way for all Canadians to pay tribute to their service.

  Veterans Parade: Parade makes it way to the National War Memorial for 10:35 am.
  

• Navan – Starts at 10:45 - Navan Cenotaph followed by a light luncheon upstairs in the arena provided by the Navan Lions and Navan Women's Institute.
  

• Orléans – 10:30 to 11 am Royal Canadian Legion (Branch 632) parade and service at the Orleans Cenotaph.
  

• Osgoode – 10:45 am to noon. Royal Canadian Legion (Osgoode Branch 589) parade and service at the Osgoode Cenotaph in front of the Municipal Building.
  

• Richmond – 10:45 am to noon. Royal Canadian Legion (Richmond Branch 625) service on Perth Street near the Richmond Memorial Park.
  

• Stittsville – 1:45 to 2:45 pm Royal Canadian Legion (Stittsville and District Branch 618) parade and service at the Stittsville Cenotaph.
  

• West Carleton – November 9 from 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm, the West Carleton Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 616 will host their annual Remembrance Day Parade. The parade forms at the general store on Constance Bay Road at 1 p.m. and leaves from there at 1:30 p.m. travelling down Allbirch Road to the Legion. At the legion there will be a half-hour ceremony at the Branch 616 Cenotaph.
  

• Westboro – 1:30 to 3 pm Royal Canadian Legion (Westboro Branch 480) parade and service at the Westboro Cenotaph.

Emergency Preparedness

None of us want to imagine the worst - but as many Ottawa residents have experienced in the past couple of years, sometimes the worst happens. The tornado that touched down in Orleans last night is the latest in unusual weather events (like 2018’s tornado and the 2017-2019 floods) that we can expect to be coping with as climate change intensifies.

Despite a healthy perspective on risk, as a mother, I still worry. And as a former Girl Guide, the motto "be prepared" is ingrained in me. Although I don't see a tornado, or freezing rain (or even a pandemic) carrying me away any time soon, I am conscious of the need to prepare for any disaster.

Trees bent under the ice

The City of Ottawa has a great page dedicated to emergency preparedness. After years of a niggling voice telling me to get my butt in gear, I've finally decided to put together our family's Emergency Preparedness Kit.

Experts urge us to prepare for 72 hours. If a pandemic were sweeping the country, I'm not sure what 72 hours would do for us, but it makes sense when it comes to something like a natural disaster. Here's what the government includes as part of a basic emergency kit:

• Easy to carry: think of ways that you can pack your emergency kit so that you and those on your emergency plan can easily take the items with you, if necessary

• Water: two litres of water per person per day (include small bottles that can be carried easily in case of an evacuation order)

• Food: that won't spoil, such as canned food, energy bars and dried foods (remember to replace the food and water once a year)

• Manual can opener

• Flashlight and batteries

• Battery-powered or wind-up radio

• Extra batteries

• First aid kit

• Special needs items: prescription medications, infant formula or equipment for people with disabilities

• Extra keys for your car and house

• Cash: include smaller bills, such as $10 bills (travellers cheques are also useful) and change for payphones

This is a great list, and they also include "extras" that you can add. Given that we're a family who loves camping, we already have a lot of these supplies. It's just a matter of compiling all of this into a couple of bins, which could be transferred to backpacks if necessary.

Here's some of the extras I'll be adding to our family's emergency kit:

• extra water for washing/cooking

• basic tools (hammer, knife etc.)

• our camping stove, fueled by white gas (we can fill several bottles full and keep them stored)

• water purification tablets - safe, effective little tablets that will kill bacteria and viruses

• carbon water filter (my husband owns one, and it's essential for backcountry camping!)

• Flint fire starter and matches

• Camping pots, dishes and cutlery

• Waterproof food storage bags

• Some personal toiletries

This might seem excessive to some (just check out this website, and you'll think my list is tame in comparison!), but it makes me feel better knowing I have this stuff available to me. Living in the modern world, we all too easily rely on convenience - we know we can buy what we need any time of the day. When preparing for an emergency, imagine what you would do if you couldn't access a store; if your cell phone was no longer working; if you were driven from your home; and if you had no access to electricity. Makes you think, right?

Do you have an emergency preparedness kit? What's in it?

Ottawa Remembrance Day Ceremonies

Remembrance Day falls on a Sunday this year, which means it's a great opportunity to find a ceremony or parade to attend as a family. There are also events taking place before Remembrance Day. Here is a list of Remembrance Day events and ceremonies in Ottawa:

Virtual Poppy Drop on Parliament Hill

On Parliament Hill from now until November 11th over 100,000 falling poppies will be projected onto the Peace Tower and Centre Block. The virtual Poppy Drop is presented by the Royal Canadian Legion. There is one poppy for each of Canada’s fallen.

Ceremonies on November 11, 2018

• Beechwood Cemetery - 10:30 a.m. to noon. Taking place at the National Military Cemetery on the grounds of Beechwood Cemetery, this ceremony honours all those who have fallen in the service of Canada and all Canadian Forces members interred at the cemetery. There will also be a performance by the children’s choir.
  

• Bells Corners – 10:30 to 12:30 a.m., Royal Canadian Legion (Bells Corners Branch 593).
  

• Eastview/Vanier – 1:30 to 3 p.m., Royal Canadian Legion (Eastview Branch 462), north on Cyr Avenue between the Royal Canadian Legion (294 Cyr Avenue) and Montreal Road, east on Montreal Road between Cyr Avenue and Hannah Street, and north on Hannah Street between Montreal Road and Marier Avenue, and to the Vanier Cenotaph for the ceremonial service. Following the service, the parade participants will return to the Royal Canadian Legion going south on Hannah Street between Marier Avenue and Montreal Road, south on Cody Avenue between Montreal Road and Jeanne Mance Street, west on Jeanne Mance Street between Cody Avenue and Savard Avenue, and north on Savard Avenue between Jeanne Mance Street and Racine Robert Funeral Home.
  

• Kanata – 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m., Royal Canadian Legion (Kanata Branch 638), east on The Parkway between Earl of March High School (4 Parkway) and Teron Road, south on Teron Road between The Parkway and Colchester Square, Colchester Square, and west on Campeau Drive between Colchester Square and the John Mlacak Centre.
  

• Manotick/South Carleton – 10:15 a.m. to noon, Royal Canadian Legion (South Carleton Branch 314), east on Beaverwood Road from the Royal Canadian Legion to Manotick Main Street, north on Manotick Main Street from Beaverwood Road to Clapp Lane, east on Clapp Lane from Manotick Main Street, and to the Manotick Cenotaph for the ceremonial service. Then, south on Dickinson Street from the Manotick Cenotaph and Mill Street, west on Mill Street from Dickinson Street and Manotick Main Street, south on Manotick Main Street from Mill Street and Beaverwood Road, west on Beaverwood Road from Manotick Main Street and the Royal Canadian Legion (Branch 314)
  

• National War Memorial – 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Royal Canadian Legion, Dominion Command. The following street closures will be in effect:
  Rideau/Wellington Street between Sussex/Colonel By Drive and Bank Street, Queen Street between O’Connor Street and Elgin Street, Elgin Street between Wellington Street and Albert Street, Metcalfe Street between Wellington Street and Albert Street, and O’Connor Street between Wellington Street and Queen Street.
  

• Navan – 10:30 a.m. to noon, Colonial Road between Delson Drive and Fairgreen Avenue, and to the Navan Cenotaph for the ceremonial service.
  

• Orléans – 10:30 to 11 a.m., Royal Canadian Legion (Branch 632), Vimont Court and Taylor Creek Boulevard between Vimont Court and the Royal Canadian Legion at 800 Taylor Creek Boulevard, and to the Orleans Cenotaph for the ceremonial service.
  

• Osgoode – 10:45 a.m. to noon, Royal Canadian Legion (Osgoode Branch 589), Victoria Street between Eighth Line Road and Louise Street, and to the ceremonial service at the Osgoode Cenotaph in front of the Municipal Building.
  

• Richmond – 10:45 a.m. to noon, Royal Canadian Legion (Richmond Branch 625), Perth Street between the Richmond Shopping Plaza and the Richmond Memorial Park for the ceremonial service.
  

• Stittsville – 1:45 to 2:45 p.m., Royal Canadian Legion (Stittsville and District Branch 618), north on Stittsville Main Street between the Royal Canadian Legion, (1480 Stittsville Main Street) and Warner-Colpitts Lane, and west on Warner-Colpitts Lane between Stittsville Main Street and the Stittsville Cenotaph for the ceremonial service. The parade participants will return to the Royal Canadian Legion going east on Mulkins Street between the Stittsville Cenotaph and Stittsville Main Street, and south on Stittsville Main Street between Mulkins Street and the Royal Canadian Legion, Stittsville Branch 618.
  

• Strathcona – 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Sunday, November 5, Royal Canadian Legion (Strathcona Branch 595), Main Street between Immaculata High School (140 Main Street) parking lot and St. Paul University (223 Main Street) parking lot for the ceremonial service.
  

• West Carleton – 1 to 2 p.m., Saturday, November 4, Royal Canadian Legion (West Carleton Branch 616), Constance Bay Road between McConnell Lane and Allbirch Road, and Allbirch Road between Constance Bay Road, and to the Royal Canadian Legion for the ceremonial service.
  

• Westboro – 1:30 to 3 p.m., Royal Canadian Legion (Westboro Branch 480), north on Winston Avenue between the Royal Canadian Legion and Madison Avenue, east on Madison Avenue between Winston Avenue and Churchill Avenue, south on Churchill Avenue between Madison Avenue and Richmond Road, and west on Richmond Road between Churchill Avenue and Broadview Avenue to the Westboro Cenotaph. Wreath laying and ceremonial service at Westboro Cenotaph from 2:30 p.m. The parade participants will return east on Richmond Road between Broadview Avenue and the Royal Canadian Legion (Westboro Branch 480).

What a Week (but Standing Strong)

It's Friday - does anyone else feel totally exhausted today? Not your normal Friday afternoon exhausted, but emotionally exhausted. This week has been a tough one for our beautiful city, and for the family and friends of those affected by the shooting. I cried for Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, as I also cried for the outpouring of love and strength that resulted from this tragic event.

Today our city honoured Cpl. Cirillo in a moving ceremony, as the Ceremonial Guard is reinstated at the National War Memorial. Although I wasn't there, the support I witnessed through video and photos makes me exceedingly proud of our city and our country.

My children are too young to know what happened here this week. When they are old enough to understand, I hope they will listen to the stories about October 22nd.  And I hope they will feel a deep sense of respect for the people who have lost their lives in the battle against senseless violence.

I hope Ottawans continue to tell their stories - continue to post pictures and words - for many years to come. As with all the wars in which we have fought, the honouring of lives lost may one day help to foster peace for the future.

Lest we forget