Remembrance Day in East Kootenay

Remembrance Day became a permanently fixed national military memorial day in Canada when an act was passed by the government in 1931, linking the day to the anniversary of Armistice Day, November 11, 1918.  The day was to mark the end of the Great War – “the war that was to end all wars.” On that day, each year ever since, Canadians have gathered to honor those who lost their lives in battle.

Here in the East Kootenay, Remembrance Day is marked in the individual towns and villages, where it is a very personal commemoration of those family members and dear friends who died in military conflicts through the years. Each community has its own traditional way of doing this, bringing its people together to remember. Here’s a list of the various East Kootenay Remembrance Day events:

Cranbrook

10:30 am – Parade starts behind the East Kootenay Credit Union and ends at Rotary Park (1st Street between 10th Ave. and 11th Ave. S.)

11:00 am – Ceremony begins. Afterward, spectators and marchers are invited to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #24 (basement of the Heritage Inn (803 Cranbrook St. N.)

Fernie

10:55 am – Ceremony at the Cenotaph at the Court House

11:45 am – An ecumenical service at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 36 ( 551 1st Ave.)

Sparwood

The Leisure Centre is the place to be for free Canadian-inspired activities and entertainment for the entire familiy.

Kimberley

With the closure of the Kimberley Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, the Kimberley Air Cadet Squadron, the Elks Club and the Kimberley Community Band will join together to make sure the ceremony goes ahead.

A parade will muster outside of Centre 64 instead of above the old Legion building, but will still proceed through the Platzl to the Cenotaph.

11:00 am – Service at the Cenotaph

Canal Flats

10:30 am – A ceremony will be held at the Canal Flats Civic Centre, followed by the placing of the wreaths at the cenotaph. Afterward there will be a community luncheon at the Civic Centre.

Invermere

10:30 am – a procession begins at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 71 (13th St.) and moves to Cenotaph Park for a ceremony,ending with the laying of the wreaths. Following the service, there will be a luncheon at the Legion.

Edgewater

The Edgewater Remembrance service starts at 3:45 pm with a line-up at Legion Branch #199 for parade. This is followed by a ceremony at the cenotaph at 4 pm and then returning to the Legion for a hot beverage and dinner.

Golden

11:30 am – There will be a social at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 122, 1011 11 Avenue South