Remembrance Day ceremonies this week begin with National Aboriginal Veterans Day Nov. 8.
Note: Drivers of vehicles displaying B.C. veteran licence plates will enjoy free parking at City of Vancouver parking meters, in EasyPark parkades and in surface lots, as well as in park board operated facilities for Veterans Week, Nov. 4 to 11. The free parking also extends to popular destinations, including Stanley Park, Queen Elizabeth Park and the Vancouver Aquatic Centre. The City offers the complimentary parking to recognize the military service and dedication Canadian men and women provided to our country and to facilitate their work distributing poppies.
Nov. 8
National Aboriginal Veterans Day
Victory Square Cenotaph
10: 45 a.m.
Aboriginal veterans will hold a ceremony at the Victory Square Cenotaph following a march from the Carnegie Centre at the corner of Main and Hastings at 10:15 a.m. The official ceremony at the cenotaph begins at 10:45 a.m.
Nov. 10
Duty Calls: Men of Christ Church Go to War
7:30 p.m.
690 Burrard St.
Christ Church Cathedral commemorates the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge and honours Canada’s Armed Forces, past and present, with a presentation of staged reading of the play Call of Duty. Actors will portray the parts of Private Norman Hughes, who fought at Vimy Ridge, and Lieutenant Harold Owen, both remembered in stained glass windows, and Lieutenant-Colonel William Hart-McHarg, memorialized on a plaque — as they step down from the walls of Christ Church Cathedral to tell their stories of life, war, and death. The audience will be invited to join in the singing of anthems and hymns of the Great War. Admission by donation.
Ongoing
On a Wing and a Prayer
Chinese Canadian Military Museum
Tuesdays to Sundays
555 Columbia St., second floor
The museum’s latest exhibition, On a Wing and a Prayer, tells the remarkable stories of the Chinese-Canadian Air Force men who fought, died and survived some of the most harrowing situations of the Second World War. These were the men who fought in the air war — the group with highest casualty rate amongst all the armed services. As well, learn how other Chinese Canadian men and women contributed to the success of the air war.
Nov. 11
Free Remembrance Day movie
2:30 p.m.
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden 578 Carrall St.
Force 136 was a little-known branch of a Second World War British unit of the Special Operations Executive. Many of its recruits were Chinese Canadians from B.C. who were assigned some of the deadliest missions in Japanese-held territories. The brave service of Force 136 helped pave the way toward full citizenship and equal rights for Chinese Canadians. One of the veterans, Douglas Jung, went on to become Canada's first Chinese-Canadian Member of Parliament. A free screening of Force 136, a TELUS Originals documentary, will show on Remembrance Day.
Remembrance Day Ceremony
Victory Square Cenotaph
10 to 11:30 a.m.
200 West Hastings St.
The city’s largest Remembrance Day Ceremony begins at 10 a.m. with a performance by the Vancouver Bach Youth Choir and Sarabande. At 10:10 a.m. veterans, military marching units and bands will be led to Victory Square by the Vancouver Flag Party for the cenotaph ceremony starting at 10:30 a.m. Shortly afterward, there will be a combined performance by Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services and the Regimental Pipes and Drums of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada. At 11 a.m. the Last Post will be sounded. There will be two-minutes of silence, during which a 21-gun salute by the 15th Field Artillery Regiment will be heard from Portside Park. Lament and Rouse will follow. The Royal Canadian Air Force will conduct a fly-past moments later, weather permitting. In Flanders Fields will then be sung by the Bach Youth Choir and Sarabande and wreaths will be placed at the cenotaph.
25th annual Remembrance Day concerts
8 p.m.
St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church
1022 Nelson St. at Burrard
Chor Leoni continues its tradition of Remembrance Day concerts with a program of powerful music paired with thoughtful readings focused on the 100th anniversary of Vimy Ridge and its place in Canadian history. Musical highlights include Kurt Bestor’s Prayer of the Children and a new setting of In Flanders Fields by Canadian composer Michael Betteridge. As always the concert closes with The Last Post and the singing of Rupert Lang’s Kontakion.
Remembrance Day at Mountain View Cemetery
Musical and theatrical tribute
Arrive 10:30 a.m.
Celebration Hall
5455 Fraser St.
The Little Chamber Music Series That Could is proud to present three unique concerts taking place at Mountain View Cemetery in honour of Canada's veterans on Remembrance Day:
11 a.m.: “11” — A community history and music project celebrating the Renfrew Heights Veterans Housing Project. By Mark Haney, performed by the Allegra Chamber Orchestra.
12 p.m. — Remembering the Never Fails: A musical tribute to the band of the legendary 85th Regiment, performed by the Homegoing Brass Band.
1 p.m.: Solace — Music for Remembrance and Reflection performed by the Allegra Chamber Orchestra, featuring works by Jocelyn Morlock, Elizabeth Knudsen, Mark Haney and Elvis Costello.
All three concerts will take place in the Celebration Hall — enter the cemetery at East 39th Avenue off Fraser Street. All performances are free and accessible. Visit vancouver.ca.
Japanese Canadian War Memorial
10:40 a.m.
Stanley Park near the Pavilion
Organized by the Japanese Canadian War Memorial Committee of the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre with displays and a reception to follow at the Stanley Park Rowing Club. Visit nikkeiplace.org.
Remembrance Day Ceremony at UBC
Doors open at 10 a.m.
War Memorial Gym
This year marks the 66th annual Remembrance Day ceremony at UBC organized so that faculty, staff, students and members of the on and off-campus community can honour and remember those who served in times of war, military conflict and peace. This year’s ceremony will include short readings, remarks from special guests and musical performances by the UBC Opera Ensemble.
Light refreshments will be served after the ceremony and all are welcome to stay. Visit ceremonies.ubc.ca.
Chinatown Memorial
12:30 p.m.
Keefer at Columbia streets
CRAB Park Remembrance Day Ceremony
10:55 a.m.
North end of Main Street
Grandview Park Remembrance Day ceremony
10:45 a.m.
1200 block of Commercial Drive
Memorial South Park
10:30 a.m.
East 41st Avenue at Windsor Street
Shaughnessy Elementary students install poppies at city hall
Grade 5 students from Shaughnessy Elementary School have installed a display of red poppies on the grounds of Vancouver City Hall at the corner of West 12 Avenue and Cambie Street. Their teacher, Ms. Carla Pace, was inspired by the major art installation Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red at the Tower of London in 2014 marking the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War.
@sthomas10
