Virtual Remembrance Day ceremonies for Kingston and area
On November 11 each year, people across the country and around the world honour those who have served in the armed forces in a variety of ways.
In the Kingston area, thousands would usually come together at a number of different events, remembering those who lost their lives while serving in the Canadian Armed Forces, as well as those veterans who remain with us, and those currently serving. Due to the pandemic, some local Remembrance Day ceremonies will be held online.
Civic Ceremony – Memorial Hall Live-Stream
The City of Kingston will observe Remembrance Day with a live-streamed Civic Ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020.
To help residents observe Remembrance Day in a meaningful way, the City’s 2020 Civic Ceremony will be live-streamed with closed-captions from Memorial Hall in City Hall beginning at approximately 10:45 a.m. Due to COVID-19 and limitations on gatherings, the ceremony is by invitation-only and is closed to the general public.
To show your support for those who made the ultimate sacrifice, you can:
- Purchase a wreath or poppy from the Royal Canadian Legion
- Watch the ceremony live-stream at YouTube.com/TheCityofKingston
In lieu of the community and Military and Veterans groups wreath-laying ceremonies, the City says all wreaths will be pre-placed and on display in Memorial Hall for the Civic Service of Remembrance. To order a wreath please contact Merrill Gooderham, Poppy Chair, Royal Canadian Legion at 613-544-5522.
RMC Remembers
Beginning at 10:45 a.m. on November 11, 2020, the Royal Military College of Canada will live stream this year’s Remembrance Day ceremony to honour the memory of the brave Canadians, including Ex-Cadets, who served and sacrificed for our country, and those who continue to serve Canada during times of war, conflict and peace, according to an event listing on their Facebook Page.
The traditional ceremony at the college’s Memorial Arch will be held virtually to allow RMC’s Naval and Officer Cadets to acknowledge the solemn anniversary while they continue to study remotely from locations across Canada.
Attendance at the ceremony will be limited to 25 guests and staff, compliant with COVID-19 public health guidance. The livestream will be held on RMC’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RMCCanadaCMR
The Royal Canadian Horse Artillery Brigade Association (RCHA)
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the RCHA cannot hold their traditional ceremony at the RCHA Memorial on Remembrance Day.
The Gunners’ Remembrance Day Ceremony in Kingston was pre-recorded at the RCHA Memorial with M.C. Lt Col (Retd) Robert Chamberlain, CD; Prayers – Bishop George Bruce, CD; Bugler, Janet MacCrae; Piper, Heather Bardell; Soloist, Michael Myers.
The service will be available on the RCHA website at www.rchaclub.com at 10:45 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020, and on Facebook and Twitter with a link. The RCHA Club will be open on Wednesday, Nov 11, 2020 at noon with entertainment by Michael Myers starting at 1 p.m. There will be no food available this year.
Loyalist Township Ceremony
A recorded virtual ceremony from Wilton will be available on the Loyalist Township website, as well as on their social media pages, on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020 at 10:45 a.m. Details here: https://www.loyalist.ca/en/news/virtual-remembrance-day-ceremony.aspx
Kingston Symphony Performance
To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII, and in honour of Remembrance Day, the Kingston Symphony has come together, digitally, to perform a brand new piece called Tracing Colville by award-winning Canadian composer and Kingston resident, Dean Burry.
To watch the premiere performance, please visit https://youtu.be/BLZXp0QU61w.
More details on this piece and performance, read the full article here: https://www.kingstonist.com/news/kingston-symphony-creates-digital-performance-for-remembrance-day/
This is not a complete list of this year’s services. If you are aware of others, leave them in the comments.
Changes To City Services
Remembrance Day is also a municipal holiday. Here are the City schedule changes for Remembrance Day on Wednesday, Nov. 11:
Garbage, Green Bin and recycling: No collection Wednesday and collection moves to the day after your normal pick-up day for the rest of the week. Sign-up to be reminded what to put out when at www.CityofKingston.ca/Collection. The Kingston Area Recycling Centre is also closed Wednesday.
Administrative offices: All administrative offices, including housing and social services and provincial offences are closed Wednesday.
Kingston Transit: Buses run as usual on Wednesday.
INVISTA Centre/ Fitness & Wellness Centre, Rideau Heights Community Centre and arenas: Open Wednesday.
Swimming lessons and drop-in programming: City of Kingston programs at the West-end Boys & Girls Club will continue as usual on Nov. 11.
CaraCo Home Field: Closed Wednesday.
Libraries: All branches of the Kingston Frontenac Public Library are open on Wednesday.
PumpHouse Museum: Closed Wednesday.