Citywide
In honour of Veteran's Week, now through Nov. 11 vehicles displaying B.C. veteran licence plates will be exempt from parking fees at City of Vancouver meters, in EasyPark parkades and at surface lots.
The free parking also extends to park board operated attractions such as Stanley Park, Queen Elizabeth Park and the Aquatic Centre, as well as a number of downtown community centres, including Coal Harbour, Creekside and Roundhouse.
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. Poppy donations support veterans with affordable housing, education, trauma treatment, relief and recovery.
Downtown Eastside
The largest annual Remembrance Day ceremony in the city takes place at the Victory Square Cenotaph on West Hastings at Cambie, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 11.
Coal Harbour
Prior to the Victory Square ceremony, at 8 a.m. regimental units of the 39 Canadian Brigade, HMCS Discovery, RCMP "E" Division and the Vancouver Flag Party will participate in the lighting of the cauldron at Jack Poole Plaza in a special ceremony with the theme Generation to Generation.
South Vancouver
The Remembrance Day ceremony at Memorial South Park, sponsored by the Vancouver Veteran's Council, begins with a parade starting at John Oliver secondary school, 530 East 41st Ave., at 10 a.m.
Following the parade is a memorial service at the Memorial South Park cenotaph, located near East 41st Avenue and Windsor Street at 10:30 a.m.
Here's a little history lesson for those unfamiliar with the park - compliments of Veteran's Affairs Canada. Memorial South Park was originally known as Wilson Park, but after the City of Vancouver amalgamated in 1929, it was designed as a memorial to soldiers who perished in the First World War. Vancouver's first cenotaph, which was then located at South Vancouver Municipal Hall, was relocated to the park Nov. 11, 1939. For many years the park played host to whippet racing, but the most exciting event had to be an emergency plane landing on the football field during the Second World War. It seems the trainer plane from the No. 18 Elementary Air Training School at Boundary Bay had gotten off course, was low on fuel and had to make a forced landing.
Stanley Park
A Remembrance Day ceremony takes place at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 11 at the Japanese Monument in Stanley Park. The ceremony commemorates Vancouver's Japanese soldiers who served in the First World War.
University of B.C.
The annual Remembrance Day ceremony at UBC takes place Nov. 11 at 10:45 a.m. at the War Memorial Gym, 6081 University Boulevard. This event often draws more than 1,000 who will honour those who served in times of war, military conflict and peace. Free parking is available until 1 a.m. in the General Services and Administrative Building parking lot beside the gym and at the meters on Wesbrook Drive from University Boulevard north to the bus loop.
Chinatown
The annual Chinatown Remembrance Day service takes place at Chinatown Memorial Square, located at the northeast corner of Columbia and Keefer streets. The service, which commemorates the contributions of Chinese pioneers and service men and women, takes place Nov. 11 at 12:30 p.m.
Twitter: @sthomas10
