Montrealers brave snow to honour veterans at Remembrance Day ceremony

Hundreds gathered in downtown Montreal on Tuesday to mark Remembrance Day, honouring the sacrifices made by Canadians in past wars while also looking towards the future.

“The peace we have today came at an expense,” said Anthony Bruce, who served 27 years with the Grenadier Guards. “Hundreds of thousands of soldiers lost their lives or got hurt, and it’s very important to never forget that.”

Despite the blustery, snowy weather, crowds of civilians, military personnel and dignitaries — including the city’s mayor-elect Soraya Martinez Ferrada — came out to pay their respects at Montreal’s Remembrance Day ceremony.

For some, the day brought memories of family members who served in conflicts past.

“It just makes me feel closer to them,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Hall. “I miss my grandfathers, I miss my dad, and they’ve been gone a long time — but especially on this day, I miss them.”

View images from the ceremony:

Others, like Sub-Lieutenant Megan Fitzgibbon of HMCS Donnacona, said the day also carries personal meaning for those with loved ones still in uniform.

“He’s coming home soon, so me and the family are excited to have him back,” Fitzgibbon said of her husband, who is stationed overseas. “It’s important for me to be here so that not only am I thinking about people who came before me, but I’m also thinking about my family and their service as well.”

For George Gohyer, who served 36 years with the Royal Montreal Regiment, Remembrance Day is also a time to look ahead.

“You take a look at the horrible things going on around the world and some people are waking up and saying, okay, maybe it’s time to start thinking about what happened before, and where we’re going,” he said.

Through the sound of bagpipes and the firing of the ceremonial cannon, attendees stood in silence — to ensure the past is never forgotten, and never repeated.

Read more Remembrance Day coverage:

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• ‘An amazing place’: What’s behind success of Canada’s largest Legion
• Alberta veteran, 103, recalls war service spent boosting morale at home
• National Silver Cross Mother’s hope for Remembrance Day