Remembrance Day – November 11th, is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth member states, which includes Canada.
It is observed annually on November 11th to honour the courage and sacrifices of all those who have served in wartime, and to remember the more than 118,000 Canadians who died in service. It was originally called Armistice Day to mark the end of hostilities during the First World War at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918 (the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month).
Across Canada, people pause for a two-minute moment of silence at 11:00 a.m. local time. Ceremonies are held at community cenotaphs and war memorials, with the national ceremony taking place at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, presided over by the Governor General.
The wearing of a red poppy (pictured here) is a symbol of remembrance, a tradition inspired by the resilient flowers that grew on the battlefields of the Western Front. Poppies are typically worn on the left lapel, close to the heart, in the weeks leading up to November 11.
Remembrance Day is a federal statutory holiday in Canada, all federal government offices and federally regulated workplaces (such as banks, post offices, and airlines) are closed.
For other workers, the status of Remembrance Day as a paid statutory (public) holiday varies by province and territories.
