Remembrance Day Canada

Remembrance Day in Canada | Celebration | Poppies | Contact

Remembrance day is on November 11. This website focuses on Remembrance Day in Canada but you can also find informaiton about this holiday in other countries.

On remembrance day members of the armed forces (soldiers) are commemorated

The other common name for this day is Armistice Day which marks the date and time when armies stop fighting. November 11th at 11am in 1918 (the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month) marks the end of the first world war in the UK.

In Canada, Remembrance Day is a federal statutory holiday (more about statutory holidays in Canada) as it is in most other countries where this day is observed on the national level.

The Ode of Remembrance is cited on Remembrance Day followed by the phrase "Lest we forget."

The Ode of Remembrance:
They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

Lest we forget.

For more information about Armistice Day / Remembrance Day visit the following websites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day
http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=history/other/remember
http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/remember/remembranceday_e.html

In the First World War 61,000 Canadians died, in the Second World War 42,000 Canadians died. Many of these soldiers were dual citizens serving in the Canadian Armed Forces.

A poem sent in by a visitor:

"I wrote this poem to honour the men and women who have fought and died for what they believed in. They should never be forgotten. "

Remembrance Day

Here I lie in this field of poppies.
And here I'll die for the land I love.
So say a prayer and sing the anthem.
And don't forget me when November comes.

It don't matter where you come from.
And it don't matter what God you trust.
It's my life and I choose to gift it.
So don't forget me when November comes.

I won't ask the why or wherefore.
And I won't say what have you done.
For I am dying for what I believe in.
Just don't forget me when November comes.

Say goodbye to that big old city.
And say goodbye to the ones I love.
Take their hand and whisper softly.
That I'll be here when November comes.

Note :
The first verse is to all Canadians
The second verse is to the multicultural society of Canada
The third verse is to the Canadian politician.
The last verse if for the soldier's family.

Visitor comments:

Your website states "On remembrance day members of the armed forces (soldiers) are commemorated". Is this correct? My understanding is that Remembrance Day is a day to commemorate those who have died during war in the service of their country. It seems what your website is suggesting a "Veteran's Day" or an "Armed Forces Day", recognizing those who had served or are still serving in our country's armed forces. As a retired Canadian Forces Officer I believe it is appropriate to recognize the contributions of our serving military men and women, but not on a day originally set aside to recognize our fallen soldiers.

I am from vancouver and i wanted to say that the first world war started because at that time in history all of the colonies in the world had been taken by various european countries and the only way for a european country to get more colonies was to fight another european country.Before that there wasn't a need to go to war for that reason.After the first world war european countries made millions of dollars at Germanys expense even though all the countries were equally responsible for wanting to get more colonies.These days the wars are fought for the same reasons.Russia did the right thing in 1917 and withdrew from the war.It is time for a change.It will be the working class in the world that will make the change.Humanity has survived slavery in the period of antiquity and again in the 16th and 17th centurys.We managed to get through feudalism and now there is just one more hurdle to get rid of.that is capitalism.Then things can begin to be done for the good of the people which is impossible under capitalism. (Stan Squires)

Information about Remembrance Day Canada holiday, celebration and poppies.