‘A day to think about them’: Saskatoon residents come together at City Hall on Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day service at Saskatoon Civic Square

Over 100 people gathered at the Cenotaph in Saskatoon Civic Square to mark Remembrance Day, honouring those who have served or are currently serving Canada in the armed forces.

The Master of Ceremonies for the event, Captain Eric Ogrodnick, Adjutant of the North Saskatchewan Regiment in Saskatoon, is encouraged by the show of support from those in attendance.

“I think it’s the amazing heroes that our country has produced that need to be remembered and kept alive in ways like this,” he explained.

“We spend a day to think about them and to remember them and honour them, and they’re really the best the country’s had to offer.”

The crowd, which gathered shortly before 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, included veterans, active service members, cadets and community members standing together for the national moment of silence.

The ceremony featured the playing of the Last Post, followed by two minutes of silence, which was broken by the clock on the cenotaph striking 11:00 - commemorating the exact time an agreement to end the fighting in World War One came about Nov. 11th 1918.

“Our nation’s history obviously has some very dark moments and some very, serious and ugly moments, so it’s important to remember the heroism that our nation’s best showed in those moments of trial and of danger,” said Ogrodnick.

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Wreaths were laid at the base of the cenotaph by military members, followed by members of the public laying their poppies.

Ogrodnick doesn’t concern himself with how many people do or don’t mark Remembrance Day, choosing instead to focus on his part.

“I don’t think that we can get distracted by being discouraged whether numbers are up or down by participation in Remembrance Day. All we can do is worry about ourselves and try and teach everyone around us to remember and honour veterans.”

The Cenotaph was built in1929 as a memorial to those from the area who died in the First World War. The clock initially stood on 21st Street, before moving to the current location at City Hall Square in 1957.