Photo: Remembrance Day is Tues., Nov. 11, with the traditional two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. Pictured is the Stettler cenotaph. Canada has a deep military tradition, with estimates of about 1.1 million Canadians serving in the armed forces in World War II alone.  Rural Alberta Report/S.Salkeld

Every year on 11 November, Canadians pause to reflect on the service and sacrifice of those who have served under the banner of the nation’s armed forces. The observance of Remembrance Day traces its roots to the cessation of hostilities that marked the end of the First World War.

Across the country, ceremonies at cenotaphs, war memorials and in communities mark the moment when at 11 a.m. the bugle calls, the gun salutes sound and two minutes of silence fall.

The poppy, worn on lapels in the weeks before and after 11 November, is a visual sign of remembrance and respect. The day is more than a historical ceremony: it is a living recognition of generations of Canadians who have responded when the country asked, whether in global conflict, peacekeeping missions or operations closer to home. In Canada the observance also embraces those who serve in times of peace and the present-day role of the armed forces.

The significance of the day lies in collective memory: acknowledging that many made the ultimate sacrifice, that their service shaped the freedoms enjoyed today, and that those who serve continue the commitment of their predecessors. 

Remembrance Day provides a moment of national pause. It offers space for reflection on service, sacrifice and the costs of conflict. It keeps alive the connection between the past and present, reminding newer generations of the enduring legacy of those who served. When the bugle plays, when a poppy is placed, or when a silence is observed, a thread is drawn from long ago to now.

In observing this day, Canadians uphold a tradition of respect, memory and gratitude. The ceremonial elements – wreaths, bugles, silence and poppies – are ceremonial, but the sentiment behind them is personal for many: a parent, sibling, friend, comrade remembered.

On 11 November this year and every year, the country stops. It remembers.