Northern Ont. marks Remembrance Day

North Bay has proud military tradition On Remembrance Day, North Bay veterans say they want Canadians to be advocates for hope and justice.

Remembrance Day celebrations took place across the country Monday, with Canadians reflecting on the sacrifices made by the men and women who served our country.

In North Bay, a yearly tradition of thanks took place before the ceremony started. For the third year in a row, three children -- Charleigh Giroux, 9, her brother Kolton, 6, and friend Adrianna Lamarche-Jones -- went row by row, handing out cards and painted rocks to veterans, cadets and service men and women.

"It’s to say thank you to the people who served in the war and their families," Charleigh Giroux said.

"It makes me feel really nice to give out the cards," Lamarche-Jones added.

The rocks and cards were made by children who attend the EarlyON Child & Family Centres in the District of Nipissing.

During the ceremony, the crowd at Memorial Gardens fell silent as the notes of The Last Post rang out.

Retired Warrant Officer Gordon Edwards said he joined the military when he was 16 and served in field units.

"I spent three tours in Germany with the Berlin Wall and the Cuban crisis, two tours in Cyprus," he told reporters.

The lessons of love and peace the veterans and servicemen and women want to express is that today’s 'soldier' is anyone who advocates for justice, hope, and a bright future for all.

"The soldier is everybody. It doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be in uniform," Edwards said.

"Soldiers are the people who look for peace."

North Bay has a significant military legacy, from those who went overseas in times of war, to the nearly 500 men and women still serving today at 22 Wing/Canadian Forces Base who protect North America's skies.

"In today’s political environment around the world, I think I would be wrong to say the world has not been this unstable in a long time," Wing Commander Colonel Joseph Oldford said.

As another Remembrance Day comes to an end, the turnout of about 2,000 people in North Bay serves as a reminder that this city will never forget.

Sault Ste. Marie

In Sault Ste. Marie, hundreds gathered at the GFL Memorial Gardens for the yearly Remembrance Day ceremony.

Members from all branches of the Canadian military, as well as public servants, were on hand for the event.

Songs of honour were played, as well as traditional First Nations drumming to remember Indigenous veterans.

Silver Cross mother Donna Crosson did the opening wreath laying. Crosson's son, Sgt. John Wayne Faught, died in Afghanistan in 2010.

It's a hard day

The day is hard for her, but she said it's important to remember those who passed and what their sacrifice represents.

"There's so much war away, just about everywhere in the rest of the world," Crosson said.

"The peace that we are enjoying now … we should relish it. And really, really think about what would we do without our soldiers."

Legion Branch 25 president Pierre Breckenridge said war is still very much a sad reality.

"If you turn on any news channel, you'll see, the conflicts, front and centre," Breckenridge said.

"What I would prefer people keep in their minds and thoughts are those brave men and women who are serving in the Canadian Armed Forces to defend democracy. And that's what I would like them to remember because those people are putting themselves in harm's way every day."

Cory Nordstrom

Timmins

Despite the unforgiving wet snow in Timmins on Remembrance Day, dozens of people gathered at the cenotaphs in South Porcupine and Timmins to pay their respects to those who’ve fought in major wars and to those who’ve picked up where they’ve left off.

The ceremony in Timmins always begins with a march from the Algonquin Regiment’s Cassidy Armoury to the cenotaph in Hollinger Park.

It’s an opportunity for the public to see the many people in uniforms who are committed to serving the country in one way or another.

One man from Moose Factory said the weather never scares him from committing to attend the Remembrance Day memorial.

"Well, everybody's coming to honour the people that went to war for us in the past couple of world wars," said George Moore.

"And we come every year, rain or shine. We stand proud, and we're honouring them … My dad, my grandpa, his brothers and uncles and grandpa and friends all over James Bay. There was a lot of them."

Lydia Chubak

Sudbury

There was a good turnout for the main public Remembrance Day service at the municipal arena in downtown Sudbury. The public service was organized by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 76.

Uniforms of every colour marched into the Sudbury Arena for the service, which honours those who served to defend the freedom enjoyed by all Canadians today.

"I think some of our people here in Canada have started to take things for granted and we need to look at what’s going on in the world around us," said Bernadette Lamirande with Royal Canadian Legion Branch 76.

Enjoy our freedom

"We can marry who we want, we can speak the language we want, we are not limited to where we live due to our religion. So, I think we need to remember we are very lucky living in the country we are living in."

The 2nd Batallion Irish Regiment has a long history in Sudbury. Those who are a part of this military branch of the Canadian Armed Forced said they are more than a reserve unit.

"We’re not just reserves. I lost five friends over in Afghanistan. We’re not just weekend soldiers no more," said Master-Corp. Fred Domonsky

"It’s heartbreaking for all of us that we lose them all, and that they are fallen soldiers," said Pte. Slowco 'Jerry’' Pihursky.

"It’s very hurtful, but we manage and coming here, appearing here today is very important, for all of us."

Both men said serving one’s country doesn’t have to mean fighting in a conflict overseas.

"We’re there to help with fires and emergencies and to help the public right here in town where we live," Domonsky said.

Later this week, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 76 will make public how much money was collected from its annual Poppy campaign in Sudbury.

The money goes towards local charities, particularly ones that help veterans. Last year it raised $60,000.

Angela Gemmill