On Nov. 11, hundreds of locals and visitors are expected to gather in Whistler Village to pay their respects to the Canadians who have fought for the Maple Leaf and made the ultimate sacrifice to their country.
Last year’s Service of Remembrance saw roughly 400 attendees, and organizer and RCMP Reserve Cst. Steve LeClair expects a similar turnout for this month’s service. Now in his seventh year organizing, LeClair has been moved by the resort’s longstanding support for the event in a community without much of a military history.
“It shows that people still have respect for our veterans, and this is especially important as we’re seeing fewer and fewer vets able to attend as they’re getting older,” LeClair said. “Certainly, we lose some each year and it’s just important to the community to be able to honour those people and the vets who are still around.”
Attending again this year will be members of Vancouver’s 39 Signal Regiment, an army reserve regiment that provides secure communications technology support to units within the 39 Canadian Brigade Group.
The Veterans’ Parade and Colour Party will set off at 10:45 a.m. from the Ted Nebbeling Bridge down the Village Stroll before stopping at the Whistler Cenotaph in Olympic Plaza. The Whistler Singers and Whistler Children’s Chorus will then perform songs of remembrance before leading the gathering in the singing of “O Canada.” That will be followed by “The Last Post” before two minutes of silence are observed at 11 a.m. and then a bugle call of “The Rouse.” The service will then commence, followed by the presentation of wreaths and the Whistler Singers and Children’s Chorus closing things out with “God Save the King.”
With several devastating wars ongoing across the world, from Gaza and Lebanon to Ukraine and Sudan, LeClair said this year’s service takes on added significance.
“It’s certainly on everybody’s mind the fact there are wars going on in other places and we’re so fortunate in Canada to not be involved in that currently but have a military that is prepared to serve if necessary,” LeClair said.
While not in active conflict, Canada is currently involved in multiple domestic and international operations, and provides support troops to several United Nations missions, including in the Palestinian Authority, South Sudan, Iraq, and Syria.
Any organizations or individuals wanting to lay a wreath on Remembrance Day can order one from the Squamish Legion, or make one of their own design. Contact [email protected] to place a wreath or to volunteer at the service.
The service will also be livestreamed at whistler.ca.
