First in person Remembrance Day since pandemic expected to pull large crowd

Tomorrow (Friday) is Remembrance Day across Canada.

Prince George’s branch of the Royal Canadian Legion will be bringing back a full ceremony and parade for the public to attend in honour of military members, veterans, and soldiers who never came home.

The ceremony will start at 9:00 at the Civic Centre, then at 10:30, there will be a parade to the cenotaph for the wreath laying and moment of silence.

“There will be various elements in the service,” said Sheldon Clare, the Legion Branch 43 Chair and the Organizing Chair and Parade Marshall for the ceremony.

“There will be poetry and essays being read by their authors, as well as the Prince George Community Band, the Prince George Pipes and Drums, and the participation of all the various community groups that march in the parade.”

Clair also said they are anticipating a good turnout.

In previous years, the ceremony has drawn in over 1,500 people, some at the Civic Centre, some at the Cenotaph, and some at both.

After two years without a service, Clair thinks it is important to remember the importance of the day and the Canadian Military.

“Those who volunteer and have served in and out of Canada… have made significant sacrifices in order to be good patriotic Canadians,” he said.

“Some of them didn’t come home, and it is important we never forget that.”

He pointed to the war in Ukraine, saying “it is very important that we are very aware of war, its costs, and its causes.”