Canadians recognize Remembrance Day on November 11th every year by going to ceremonies in which we collectively remember our fallen soldiers in times of war.
In recent years, these ceremonies have been held online due to COVID-19 and the social distancing protocols that went along with the pandemic.
In 2022, Remembrance Day will be recognized as it was in years before British Columbians and all of Canada pivoted to accommodate the health care system’s burden of the global pandemic.
Here are places in and around Victoria where you can pay your respects and participate in Remembrance Day Ceremonies on Friday, November 11th:
BC Parliament Buildings
The annual Remembrance Day ceremony at the BC Legislature will begin at 10:30 a.m. on November 11th. The ceremony is organized every year by a committee of local volunteers and legion members.
- Where: BC Parliament Buildings, Cenotaph, East Lawns and Driveway
- When: 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., November 11th
Esquimalt – Memorial Park
Esquimalt’s Remembrance Day ceremony includes a parade down Esquimalt Road and a ceremony at Memorial Park.
The parade will begin at the Tudor House (at Admirals Road and Esquimalt Road) and end at the Cenotaph in Memorial Park.
Attendees will join members of the Royal Canadian Navy, Cadets, Royal Canadian Legion, Scouts Canada and the Royal New Zealand Navy in marking the day.
- Where: Tudor House to the Cenotaph in Memorial Park, 1200 Esquimalt Road
- When: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., November 11th
Saanich – Municipal Hall
This year, the District of Saanich’s annual Remembrance Day Ceremony will be an in-person event for the first time since 2019.
The District of Saanich asks that groups that would like to lay a wreath please contact Saanich Community Services.
- Where: Saanich Municipal Hall, 770 Vernon Avenue
- When: 10:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., November 11th
Oak Bay – War Memorial
The Oak Bay Remembrance Day Ceremony will be held in-person and virtually this year.
Spectators are able to attend the ceremony at the Oak Bay Cenotaph and Oak Bay encourages everyone to come pay their respects or watch the event streamed online if they are unable to attend in person.
- Where: Oak Bay Cenotaph, 2800 Beach Drive or online
- When: 10:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., November 11th
Colwood – Royal Roads University
Royal Roads University will hold their annual Remembrance Day ceremony in-person this year.
The ceremony is to be hosted by the Vancouver Island Ex-Cadet Club to honour veterans and those who died in conflict in the service of Canada.
The event will be held on the Castle Terrace Lawn at Hatley Castle. Hatley Park gardens will be open to the public following the ceremony and the museum in the castle will be open from 11 a.m. — 3 p.m. There will be limited parking at the service.
- Where: Royal Roads University (Castle Terrace Lawn), 2005 Sooke Road
- When: 10:40 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., November 11th
Langford – Langford Legion
A ceremony will be held at Veterans Memorial Park beginning at 10:30 a.m. A march will go from the Langford Legion Branch to the Cenotaph.
Following the service, the Langford Legion will be hosting refreshments at the Masonic Lodge located right beside the Veterans Memorial Park.
Tents and heaters will be set up for attendees to escape the cold.
- Where: Veterans Memorial Park, Corner of Veterans Memorial Parkway and Goldstream Avenue
- When: 10:30 a.m., November 11th
Chinese Canadian Museum – Fan Tan Alley
Join Chinese Canadian veteran, Gordy Quan, who will be present at the Chinese Canadian Museum to share his experiences of the Second World War.
A special display about Second World War Chinese Canadian veterans from Victoria curated by the Victoria Chinatown Museum Society will also be up.
- Where: Chinese Canadian Museum – Fan Tan Alley, downtown Victoria
- When: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., November 11th
Central Saanich – Pioneer Park
The Central Saanich Remembrance Day ceremony will be held as an in-person service this year.
Central Saanich invites everyone to gather to pay tribute to the courage and sacrifice of those who served and continued to serve our country during times of war, military conflict, and peace.
- Where: Pioneer Park, 1209 Clarke Road
- When: 10:45 a.m., November 11th
Sidney – Cenotaph at the Town Hall
This year, the traditional Remembrance Day Parade will proceed at 10:25 a.m. from the Mary Winspear Centre, along Beacon Avenue and Second Street and will end at the Cenotaph on Sidney Avenue.
A service of Remembrance for the fallen will begin at 10:45 a.m.The service will include laying of wreaths to honour the ultimate sacrifice of service personnel who did not return from war.
A fly past is planned during the two-minute silence at 11 a.m.
Please note, there will be temporary street closures on Beacon and Second between 10:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m., and on Sidney, Third, Fourth and Mount Baker between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
- Where: Cenotaph at Sidney Town Hall, 2440 Sidney Avenue
- When: 10:45 a.m., November 11th
Sooke – Sooke Legion
Sooke welcomes all to attend their Remembrance Day Service at the Sooke Legion.
The Remembrance Day Service will begin with a parade from the Evergreen Mall arriving at Sooke’s Cenotaph, where the service will take place.
After the service, adults are invited into the Legion for refreshments including chilli, chowder, sandwiches and cake.
Youth are invited to the Lions upstairs for hot dogs, hot chocolate and cake.
- Where: Sooke Legion, 6726 Eustace Road
- When: 10:35 a.m., November 11th
To add to our list please send to tips@victoriabuzz.com or comment below.
