Remembrance Day Ceremonies Adapt Due to COVID-19

With COVID-19 restrictions in place, this year's annual commemorations of Remembrance Day have been affected. (DeAndra Asapokhai/ Ryerson School of Journalism)

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a shift in the schedule of events for this year’s annual Remembrance Day ceremonies in Canada.

Some of the annual in-person events have been made virtual; for others, social distancing measures have been implemented, with fewer attendees.

Michelle Koch, No Stone Left Alone Veterans Memorial Foundation coordinator, says students would watch their live stream ceremony from Edmonton. Some had painted puppies onto stones that they sent to the cemeteries where they would have otherwise participated, and it was re-laid for them.

This year’s Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa has also been streamed live to the public via YouTube and news channels, with only dignitaries in person.

Research shows that only one in ten Canadians commemorated the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands earlier this year due to the pandemic and COVID-19 restrictions.

Don White, a Canadian Veteran, tells Canadians always to be thankful for those who served the nation and for the job they did.

The Remembrance Day experience for Canadians this year has been different, yet some remain hopeful for the future.

Derek Winsor, son of a Korean veteran, says he thinks this year’s scaled-down version of Remembrance Day commemorations was appropriate given the circumstances but hopes for some normalcy someday.

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