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. A number of downtown community centres, including Coal Harbour, Creekside and Roundhouse will also offer free parking to veterans. 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. 5
Royal Canadian Legion salute to veterans during the B.C. Lions half-time show
Game time is 7 p.m. and the salute takes place at 8:15 p.m.
B.C. Place, 777 Pacific Blvd.
Nov. 8
National Aboriginal Veterans Day
9 a.m.: Welcoming remarks, veterans’ introduction and ceremony at Carnegie Centre, 401 Main St.
10:15 a.m.: March to the cenotaph at Victory Square, 200 West Hastings St.
10:45 a.m.: Veterans will lay wreaths at the cenotaph.
11:11 a.m.: Moment of silence.
Noon to 3 p.m.: Reception and tributes at the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre, 1607 East Hastings St.
The ceremony and reception are open to the public.
Nov. 6
Moral Injury and Peace: Remembrance Sunday at Canadian Memorial United Church
Join author, speaker and globally-renowned theologian Rev. Rita Nakashima Brock as she takes attendees through her latest book, Soul Repair: Recovering from Moral Injury after War. The book is considered to be the first to explore the idea and effect of moral injury on veterans, their families and their communities.
Following a morning session, the historic church will host an open house. The public is invited to spend time in the peace and quiet of the sanctuary and take in the unique stained glass windows created as a Canadian memorial for peace after the Second World War. The Books of Remembrance will also be opened allowing individuals to find names of family members who gave their lives in the hope of peace.
Remembrance Sunday concludes with a public lecture co-hosted with the Vancouver School of Theology and presented by Rev. Brock entitled, The Invisible Wounds of Trauma and Pathways to Recovery.
All events are free and open to the public.
10:30 a.m.: Worship with Rev. Brock.
1 to 3 p.m.: Books of Remembrance and open house
7 p.m.: Public lecture with Rev. Brock
All events are free and open to the public. The church is located at 1806 West 15th Ave. at Burrard. For more information call 604-731-3101or visit canadianmemorial.org.
Nov. 10
We Remember: Vancouver Orpheus Male Choir
The Vancouver Orpheus Male Choir, formed in 1992 for men of all ages who enjoy singing, will perform a special concert Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at West Point Grey United Church, 4595 West Eight Ave.
The group, part of the city’s thriving community choir scene, focuses on popular songs from many eras and lands, including Broadway show tunes, spirituals, sea shanties and rousing male vocal classics.
For more information about the choir and tickets, visit vancouverorpheus.org.
Nov. 11
Remembrance Day Ceremony at Victory Square Cenotaph, 200 West Hastings St.
9:45 to 11:30 a.m.
The city’s largest Remembrance Day Ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. with opening remarks, music and prayers followed by the annual parade of veterans, military marching units and bands. The program begins with a performance by the Vancouver Bach Youth Choir and Sarabande at 9:45 a.m. At 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. followed with 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.
Photos and music at Celebration Hall at Mountain View Cemetery, 5455 Fraser St.
Nov. 11, 10:30 a.m.
For 11 minutes, ending in a minute of silence, a solo trumpet will cue 11 stringed instruments, each representing a fallen soldier or veteran of the World Wars. First presented in 2014, Mark Haney’s composition and Diane Park’s installation of photos were inspired by the Renfrew Heights Veterans Housing Project. The event was created as part of a community history project by the Little Chamber Music Series That Could. This is a free, accessible, all-ages event.
Remembrance Day Ceremony at UBC War Memorial Gym
Nov. 11, doors open at 10 a.m.
Since the opening of the War Memorial Gym in 1951, the University of B.C. has held a ceremony commemorating Remembrance Day making 2016 the 65th anniversary. This special ceremony is an opportunity for faculty, staff, students and members of the on and off-campus community to honour and remember all those who served in times of war, military conflict and peace.
The Remembrance Day event includes short readings, remarks from special guests and musical performances by the UBC Opera Ensemble.
Everyone is welcome to attend this annual ceremony, which begins at 10:45 a.m. Light refreshments will be served after the ceremony and all are welcome to stay. Due to construction near the gym, access and parking are limited. Please visit ceremonies.ubc.ca for information.
Chinatown Remembrance Day Ceremony
Nov. 11, 12:30 p.m.
The annual Chinatown Remembrance Day Ceremony takes place at the monument at Chinatown Memorial Square situated at the northeast corner of Columbia and Keefer streets. The service will begin at 12:30 pm to accommodate those who wish to first pay their respects at the Remembrance Day Ceremony at Victory Square.
The tradition of having a Chinatown community service of remembrance has been observed for the past number of years. It commemorates the struggles and sacrifices of the early Chinese pioneers and Chinese Canadian military veterans for whom the monument is dedicated. While the ceremony is especially meaningful to elder pioneer residents and their descendants, it also serves as a poignant reminder to the greater public and recent immigrants of Canada’s wartime sacrifices in past and current conflicts, and to the dedication of the Canadian Chinese community as pioneers and as servicemen and women towards Canada.
The service is jointly organized by the Chinese Canadian Military Museum Society, the Army Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada, the Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver, the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. and Vancouver Chinatown Merchants Association.
Kerrisdale Legion
The Kerrisdale Legion is hosting a Remembrance Day event, Nov. 11 from noon to 9:30 p.m. with the B.C. Regiment Pipes and Drums at 2 p.m. followed by the Fraser River Ramblers from 4 to 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend, including children. All beer will be $5 and a meal including chili and a bun will be available for a $5 donation to the Poppy Fund. The Legion is located at 2177 West 42nd Ave.
