Hundreds gather in Winnipeg for Remembrance Day

Across Winnipeg and the country, Canadians paused this morning to remember those who served and sacrificed for our freedom.

At the RCB Convention Centre, hundreds gathered for the city’s largest Remembrance Day ceremony, standing in silence at the eleventh hour to honour the fallen and those still serving.

From the National anthem to the laying of wreaths, the annual Remembrance Day ceremony brought together veterans, families, and young Manitobans to reflect on the meaning of sacrifice.

“Things like this shows what has gone on before, and to be proud of being in the military,” said Robert Stewart, the organizer of the Remembrance Day Ceremony.

Among those honoured, Indigenous veterans like Ken Saunders, who came to pay tribute to those who never came home.

“Today I came to this event to show respect not to just all the other veterans … I am going to be showing respect for those guys who didn’t come back,” said Saunders.

For Captain Angela Brass, this year marked a historic feat, carrying the Indigenous Veterans of Manitoba Eagle Staff during the ceremony. She says to her, the day is about unity and recognition to all who serve.

“This year is the first year the Indigenous Veterans of Manitoba eagle staff was on parade, and I had the honour to hold it this year,” said Brass. “There are female warriors out there, too, and we have to be recognized because we are fighting right along our male comrades.”

Adding, “It fills my heart to see that everyone has come down to take the time to pay respect to our current members and fallen comrades.”

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Also in the ceremony hall, thousands of handmade poppies lined the massive Canadian Blanket, a community project years in the making, now stretching more than eighty-five feet long.

“Not only do we want to get more people involved, add more poppies and get others involved, but ideally I want to take the effort this year or next year and put down the names of Manitoba fallen soldiers from World War II on the ribbons,” said Sheila Lee Sestall, the organizer of the Canadian Poppy Blanket.

Each stitch, each poppy, and each moment of silence, a reminder that remembrance is more than a day, it’s a promise to never forget.