Niagara Falls History Museum adorned with thousands of hand-knit poppies as part of the city’s Remembrance Day ‘Poppy Project’. Photo credit: Niagara Falls Museums
After a year of hosting virtual and private invite-only ceremonies, many of Niagara’s municipalities and veteran organizations are back offering in-person, open-to-the-public events this Remembrance Day.
From West Lincoln to Wainfleet, communities across the region are providing residents plenty of opportunity to once again pay their respects to those who served and sacrificed so much for our freedom.
Below is a partial list of some of the in-person Remembrance Day events being held across Niagara this Thursday.
Fort Erie
While the typically well-attended ceremony at Mather’s Arch along the Niagara River in Fort Erie will be closed to the general public this year, local residents are welcome to attend the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 230 ceremony at the Ridgeway Memorial Cemetery cenotaph at the corner of Farr Ave. and Ridgeway Rd. The ceremony starts at 11:00am.
Grimsby
Hosted at the cenotaph outside of Grimsby Museum, the 2021 installment is open to all members of the public. The ceremony will not be livestreamed this year, so anyone wanting to experience the event will have to attend in-person. 10:45am start time.
Lincoln
In its second of two events, Lincoln’s Royal Canadian Legion Branch 612 will host a public Remembrance Day ceremony at the Beamsville cenotaph next to Jacob Beam Public School. Show up early, as the parade will begin to form around 10:30am. All wreaths must be placed at the cenotaph before commencement of the formal ceremony.
Niagara Falls
The City of Niagara Falls will once again be holding its Nov. 11 ceremony outside at the cenotaph beside the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Fairview Cemetery. Due to expanded COVID-safety allowances by the province, there are no restrictions on number of attendees this year, so all are welcome. However, if physical distancing cannot be maintained, the City askes that attendees wear face coverings when standing closer than two meters apart. The event will also be livestreamed starting at 10:45am.
Niagara-on-the-Lake
The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake will close traffic to all vehicles on Thursday in order for the public to honour the solemn day properly and peacefully at the cenotaph on Queen St. The laying of wreaths for families will begin at 10:15am, followed by a reading of the fallen and the official wreath laying ceremony. Legion members and representatives from the air cadets, fire department, guides, scouts and invited dignitaries will all be present.
Pelham
The Nov. 11 service provided in Pelham will take place at Veterans Park on the Legion grounds. It will begin at approximately 10:45am and will have COVID-19 safeguards built into the program. Residents are invited to participate in the service and masks are encouraged for all attendees. Weather permitting, the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum has arranged for a fly-by of the Avro Lancaster. The service will also be live-streamed for those who would prefer to attend virtually, courtesy of Niagara College’s students and staff from the Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film (BRTF) program.
Port Colborne
On Nov. 11 at 10:45am the Port Colborne Legion will be hosting its Remembrance Day ceremony at the cenotaph at H.H. Knoll Lakeview Park. For those unable to attend, a live stream of the ceremony will begin at 10:30am on the City’s YouTube channel. There will not be a ceremony at Cedar Bay Centennial Park again this year, however, a wreath will be laid at the cenotaph.
St. Catharines
The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 24 will once again be holding its ceremony at Memorial Park, with events starting at 10:00am.
Thorold
At Thorold’s most recent council meeting, Mayor Terry Ugulini announced that the municipality’s remembrance parade, originally scheduled to be held at Thorold’s Memorial Park on Nov 7., will not be take place due to the COVID-19 restrictions. However, the Remembrance Day ceremony on Nov. 11 at the park’s cenotaph is set to proceed. The formal moment of silence will take place at 11:00am. ThoroldToday will livestream the event on its Facebook page.
Wainfleet
The township will host an in-person ceremony at the cenotaph on the corner of Park and Sugarloaf streets starting at 10:45am. All community wreaths will be respectfully placed at the cenotaph in advance of the ceremony. Spectators are welcome. All COVID-19 protocols are in place.
Welland
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 4 will host a small ceremony outside of its office on Morningstar Ave. on Thursday at 10:45am. The road will be blocked to vehicle traffic starting at 10:30am. All are invited to attend.
West Lincoln
The Smithville Legion will hold a ceremony at its St. Catharines St. location starting at 10:30am.
