WATCH: Windsor’s Remembrance Day ceremony 2025

Watch Windsor's Remembrance Day ceremony for 2025 here.

There are plenty of ways to mark Remembrance Day in Windsor-Essex this year.

Windsor

The City of Windsor is partnering once again with the Windsor Veterans Memorial Services Committee, local military representatives, Windsor Police Service, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 255, area elementary schools, and others for a meaningful Remembrance Day program.

Windsor’s Official Remembrance Day Service:

Tuesday, Nov. 11, beginning at approximately 10:50 a.m. Representatives of the Windsor Veterans Memorial Services Committee, military representatives, pre-registered wreath bearers, government officials, area schools, and the public will attend the Cenotaph at City Hall Square in Windsor for an outdoor service. The service will be shared via livestream on the CTV News Windsor website.

Organizations and individuals wishing to lay a wreath at the Remembrance Day Service this year must pre-register with Ms. Bonnie Burian, Secretary of the Windsor Veterans Memorial Services Committee, at 519-973-4057 by phone or at [e-mail] by email. Those who do not pre-register will not be called upon during the service. Please note that you may be requested to lay your wreath personally on site after 1 p.m. on Nov. 11, 2025.

Window Decals and Illuminations at City Hall and in Downtown Windsor

As part of the City’s commemoration initiatives, large window decals honouring Remembrance Day with images from the Canadian War Museum will once again be on display on the main floor of City Hall at 350 City Hall Square West for the month of November. From Nov. 3 to 14, 2025, City Hall will also be illuminated in red each night in honour of our Veterans. New this year, look for special illuminations across City Hall Square and the façade of the building facing the Cenotaph.

Additionally, during that same time, the decorative lighting along sections of Ouellette Avenue will also be illuminated in red and white each night.

‘In Flanders Fields’ at City Council

The City Council meeting scheduled for Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, will begin with the playing of a video recording of “In Flanders Fields” presented by Mr. Paul LaRocque’s grade 4/5 class from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Elementary School in Windsor.

Museum Windsor Programming:

Museum Windsor will mark Remembrance Day on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, with a special program that includes:

• Free admission at the Chimczuk Museum from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Opening of the new “Remembering the Brave: Indigenous Veterans Through History” exhibit. This small display focuses on the contributions of local Indigenous Veterans during times of conflict.
• Opening of the temporary display created by Western University students: “Windsor’s First World War in 13 Objects” featuring photographic reproductions from the Ley and Lois Smith Collection in the History Department at Western University undertaken as part of a project to raise awareness of Remembrance Day by sharing some of its treasures.
• Staff-guided free tour of Dieppe Gardens military monuments at 2:00 p.m. Registration is not required, and guests are asked to gather in the lobby of the Chimczuk Museum for the 2:00 p.m. start time.
• Poppy-themed crafts for youth will be available in the Hands-On-History Gallery.

For more information on Museum Windsor, call 519-253-1812, or visit www.MuseumWindsor.ca. Art Windsor-Essex (AWE) will also offer free admission to the gallery on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. For information on current exhibitions and programming at the gallery, visit www.ArtWindsorEssex.ca.

Veterans Banner Project and NEW Commemorative Painted Sidewalk

Everyone is encouraged to visit the Olde Riverside section of Wyandotte Street where street banners are once again on display through the end of November 2025 showing the names, dates, and other commemorative information about some of the Veterans with connections to our community. This project, now in its fourth year, has approximately 40 banners on display. The project is led by Marty Flanagan and is a partnership between the Olde Riverside Town Centre Business Improvement Association (BIA), the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 255, and ENWIN.

New this year, the Royal Canadian Legion (RCL) Branch 255, in partnership with the City of Windsor, has installed commemorative markings fronting its property at 5645 Wyandotte Street East. The design, provided by Branch 255, consists of a section of municipal sidewalk painted red-and-white, approximately 70 feet in length, featuring the phrase “Lest We Forget” with an image of a soldier on one knee at each end. Two local businesses provided their support for this pilot project: the stencil which outlines the lettering and soldier was fabricated by E-W Metal Works (1950) Inc., with background paints provided by MAC Coatings (est.1952). Installation was made possible through a partnership between RCL Branch 255; the City of Windsor; and Ward 6 CouncillorJo-Anne Gignac and Ward 8 Councillor Gary Kaschak, who each contributed ward funds towards the commemorative installation.

A ceremonial “first walk” was held Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, to unveil the new installation ahead of upcoming Remembrance Day commemorations in the community.

We Remember Their Stories:

From Nov. 3 to 10, 2025, previously recorded videos will be shared online highlighting local Veterans reflecting on their service, stories, and comrades. Many of these videos were produced through the Veterans Memories Project created by the Windsor Historical Society. The recordings will be shared via the City of Windsor’s Facebook page and Mayor Dilkens’ Facebook page.

“Nôtinikêw: Going to War” – Windsor Classic ChoraleMusic Director Bruce Kotowich. Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. St. Andrew’s United Church.Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Paulin Memorial Presbyterian Church.

The Windsor Classic Chorale has a longstanding tradition of presenting a concert every November to honour those who gave their lives during the First and Second World Wars so that we might live in freedom today. This year, the WCC is proud to present a program commemorating these sacrifices in song with such works as Nôtinikêw: Going to War. The work is by Andrew Balfour, a Canadian composer of Cree descent who is known for his innovative and spiritually driven works, including the anti-war oratorio Nôtinikêw: Going to War. Nôtinikêw, which means “Going to War,” explores the stories of Indigenous soldiers who served in Canadian wars, particularly World War I, and the hardships they faced both on the battlefield and upon their return home. Tickets are available online https://windsorclassicchorale.org/notinikew-going-to-war/ and there will be a reception immediately following the performance.

LaSalle

Remembrance Day ceremony

LaSalle will hold a Remembrance Day Ceremony honouring veterans at LaSalle Cenotaph Park on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m.

For those who would like to watch but aren’t able to be there in person, it will be livestreamed on LaSalle’s YouTube channel, and will remain available afterwards.

LaSalle Cenotaph Park was built in 2014, utilizing the sun to honour veterans. A map behind the monument is highlighted by sunlight across central Europe at 11 a.m. on Remembrance Day, commemorating the day year after year.

Veterans webpage

The Town of LaSalle has constructed a webpage that shows LaSalle veterans and their stories.

Residents and families of LaSalle veterans or the former Township of Sandwich West are encouraged to submit photos and information that can be added to the page.

Veteran Pedestrian Crosswalk and banners

New this year to the town is a commemorative crosswalk on Normandy Street at Cenotaph Park, with custom veteran banners, honouring local veterans.

The banners have the name and photo of a LaSalle veteran or the Township of Sandwich West.

Chatham-Kent parade road closures

On Nov. 11, various communities across the Municipality of Chatham-Kent will be hosting parades in honour of Remembrance Day. The following roads will be closed for the parade routes:

Blenheim

10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Starting at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #185 (34 Catherine Street) and proceeding north on Catherine Street, east on Talbot Street West, north on George Street to St. Mary’s Hall (94 George Street) for Remembrance Day service. After the service, the parade reforms and proceeds south on George Street, west on Talbot Street West, south on Catherine Street and concludes at Royal Canadian Legion Branch #185 (34 Catherine Street).

Bothwell

10:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Starting at Zone Township Central School (730 Main Street North) and proceeding south on Main Street North to the Cenotaph (334 Main Street North) for Remembrance Day Service. After the service, the parade reforms and proceeds south on Main Street North, east on George Street East and concludes at Royal Canadian Legion Branch #252 (162 George Street East).

Main Street North between Chestnut Street and Elm Street will be closed during the Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph.

Chatham

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Starting at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 642 (39 William Street North) and proceeding south on William Street, west on King Street West to the Cenotaph on Sixth Street for Remembrance Day Service. After the service, the parade reforms and proceeds east on King Street West, north on William Street and concludes at Royal Canadian Legion Branch #642 (39 William Street North).

King Street West between Fifth Street and William Street, and Sixth Street between King Street West and Simcoe Lane will be closed during the Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph.

Dresden

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Starting at CK Fire Station 6 (185 Lindsley Street) and proceeding west on Lindsley Street, south on St. George Street South to the Cenotaph on Queen Street for Remembrance Day Service. After the service, the parade reforms and proceeds west on Queen Street West, north on Centre Street, east on Lindsley Street and concludes at CK Fire Station 6 (185 Lindsley Street).

Queen Street West between Centre Street and St. George Street South will be closed during the Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph.

Erieau

1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Starting at 875 Mariners Road and proceeding east on Mariners Road, north on Nichols Avenue, west on Ross Lane to the Veterans Memorial Garden. After the wreath laying ceremony, the parade reforms and will proceed west on Ross Lane for 200 m, south on the CK Fire service road, east on Mariners Road and concluding at 875 Mariners Road.

Merlin

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Starting at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 465 (2 Stanley Street) and proceeding west on Stanley Street, north on Erie Street South, continuing north on Erie Street North to the Cenotaph at Kinsmen Park (10 Erie Street North) for wreath service. After the wreath service, the parade reforms and proceeds south on Erie Street North, east on Aberdeen to the Merlin Community Hall (150 Aberdeen Street) for Remembrance Day Service. After the service, the parade reforms and proceeds west on Aberdeen Street, south on Erie Street South, east on Stanley Street and concludes at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 465 (2 Stanley Street).

Ridgetown

9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Starting at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #243 (73 Main Street East) and proceeding south on Broadway Avenue, west on Ebenezer Street East, north on Church Street, east on Main Street East to the Cenotaph at 61 Main Street East for Remembrance Day service. After the service, the parade reforms and proceeds east on Main Street East, south on Broadway Avenue and concludes at Royal Canadian Legion Branch #243 (73 Main Street East).

Main Street East between Church Street and Broadway Avenue will be closed during the Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph.

Tilbury

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Starting at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 206 (4 Stewart Avenue) and proceeding west on Stewart Avenue, north on Queen Street to the Cenotaph at Canal Street East for Remembrance Day service. After the service, the procession reforms on Queen Street and proceeds south on Queen Street, east on Stewart Avenue and concluding at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 206 (4 Stewart Avenue).

Queen Street South between Canal Street and Crawford Avenue will be closed during the Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph.

Wheatley

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Starting at the Wheatley United Church parking lot (59 Talbot Road West) and proceeding south on Victoria Street North, east on Talbot Road West to the Cenotaph at 35 Talbot Road West for Remembrance Day service. After the Remembrance Day service, the parade reforms and proceeds west on Talbot Road West, north on Victoria Street North and concludes at the Wheatley United Church parking lot (59 Talbot Road West).