What is Remembrance Day?

Often we think that war is something that happened a long time ago. In reality, war can happen at any time.

Remembrance Day, also known as Armistice Day, exists to commemorate the sacrifices of soldiers from every war since World War I.  This day takes place on November 11 to recall the signing of the armistice that ended World War I in 1918.

We have worn a poppy in early November since 1921. This flower was chosen because John McCrae's World War I poem "In Flanders' Fields" mentions poppies.

Each year, at 11:00 am on November 11, we observe two minutes of silence to honour and remember the soldiers who died at war to defend our rights.

The most important wars for Canada are:
-World War I (also called the Great War) 1914-1918
-World War II (1939-1945)
-The War of the Persian Gulf (1991)
-The War in Afghanistan (2001-present)

To find out more...