remembrance day

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Last year’s Remembrance Day Ceremony on Sunday November 11th marked the centenary of the end of the First World War and honours the courage and devotion of brave men and women who died for their country.

The ceremony took place at the Cenotaph in Centennial Park. It was preceded by a parade of vets with the participation of contingents from the Royal Canadian Navy, the RCMP and personnel from emergency service organizations as well as the scouts and guides and other community organizations all led by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 92 pipe and drum band.

Starting at about 10:50 AM the commemorative ceremony included prayers and hymns led by Rev. Juli Mallett, as well as music sung by the Salt Spring Singers, and the Makana Youth Choir accompanied by the Salt Spring Concert Band. The Last Post was sounded then followed at 11:00am by two minutes of silence marked by the firing of cannon.

After the two minutes of silence comes the Lament played by a piper and the bugle call Reveille and then the reading of In Flanders Fields and more music as memorial wreaths were laid on the cenotaph.

At the ceremony’s conclusion the parade marched past the reviewing stand where Tom Toynbee took the salute recognizing the sacrifices of his family and those of other island families made during the two World Wars and in other conflicts since.

Contact: John Binsted 250-538-1890 or johnbinsted@shaw.ca

6:00 AM — You may hear the distant sound of a lone bagpiper playing the air of “The Battle’s Over – now sleep in peace the battle’s over”. This same tune will be played throughout the United Kingdom and in countries around the world to mark the day 100 years ago when the guns fell silent.

11:00 AM — Cannon will be fired to mark the beginning and end of the two minutes of silence during the Royal Canadian Legion’s parade and Remembrance Day ceremony at the Cenotaph.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The noise will be loud in the Centennial Park area.

4:40 – 4:50 PM — Bells will be rung across the United Kingdom, Canada and other nations to celebrate the end of the Great War. According to the BBC, on November 11, 1918, “the ringing of bells erupted spontaneously across Britain as an outpouring of relief that four years of war had come to an end”. Any church, building or historical site equipped with bells on Salt Spring Island or anywhere else is invited to participate.

6:55 PM — The bugle call “The Last Post” will sound from the tug “Sea Horse (ex-navy YTB377) moored in Ganges Harbour.

7:00 PM — A beacon will be lit at the masthead of the “Sea Horse” one of thousands to be lit around the world. Other prominent sites are invited to (safely) do the same.