Tradition and community are at the heart of Remembrance Day services in Ladysmith and Chemainus this Nov. 11.
In Ladysmith, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 171 Colour Party and Band will be out in the community in the days leading up to Remembrance Day.
The Colour Party and Band visits the Lodge on 4th Thursday, Nov. 7 at 1:30 p.m. On Friday, Nov. 8, the Colour Party and Band visits Ladysmith Secondary School at 1:30 p.m. and then La Rosa Gardens at 1:30 p.m. The For King and Country Remembrance Day Veteran’s Dinner is being held that night at Eagles Hall.
First United Church is holding a Remembrance service Sunday, Nov. 10 at 10:30 a.m.
On Monday, Nov. 11, there will be a Remembrance Day parade from 10:30-10:45 a.m. from the Legion at 621 First Ave. to the Cenotaph. At 11 a.m., the program begins with two minutes of silence, followed by the Remembrance program and the laying of wreaths.
Following the service, refreshments will be available for veterans and adults at the Legion Hall, while refreshments for children participating in the memorial service will be offered at Aggie Hall.
The Colour Party will then take part in a Remembrance Day service at Cedar Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery at 1:30 p.m.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 191 in Chemainus marks Remembrance Day in a number of ways, and many events are taking place in the community.
A White Cross Ceremony took place for the first time Nov. 2 at the Chemainus Cemetery.
A Veteran’s Dinner will be held Saturday, Nov. 9 at the Chemainus Legion Hall at 9775 Chemainus Rd. Cocktails will be served at 5 p.m., and the dinner is at 6 p.m. Dinner is complimentary for veterans and $10 for guests.
On Sunday, Nov. 10, a church service will be held at 10 a.m. at St. Michael’s Church, and there will be a Remembrance Service at 1 p.m. at the Chemainus Cemetery on Chemainus Road.
The Legion’s Remembrance Day memorial service takes place Monday, Nov. 11 at 10:50 a.m. at the Chemainus Cenotaph.
Following the service, there will be an open house at the Chemainus Legion Hall and Lounge, as well as children’s refreshments at the Chemainus Senior Drop-In Centre at 9824 Willow St.
The first Remembrance Day was conducted in 1919 throughout the Commonwealth, according to Veterans Affairs Canada. Originally called Armistice Day, it commemorated the end of the First World War on Monday, Nov. 11, 1918, at 11 a.m.