In-person Remembrance Day ceremonies will not take place at Markham’s memorial sites

Public invited to watch a virtual Remembrance Day video

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 8, 2021
Heidi Reidner

In-person Remembrance Day city ceremonies will not take place at Markham’s memorial sites this year.

Despite the fact the province loosened restrictions on outdoor gatherings earlier this month, the city will mark Nov. 11 virtually for the second year in a row in order to protect veterans and community members from COVID-19, reads a statement issued by the city Nov. 4.

Due to the pandemic, services being held by legions and veterans’ associations across the region are by invitation only for veterans.

While capacity limits have been lifted, past ceremonies in Markham have drawn hundreds of people wishing to pay their respects in solemn remembrance.

To avoid potentially large crowds, the public is invited to watch a virtual Remembrance Day video featuring original poetry readings by the winners of the city’s annual Remembrance Day poetry contest.

That includes “Empty Mercy” by St. Justin Martyr Catholic Elementary School Grade 8 student Luke Zhang; “A Field of Red” by St. Robert Catholic High School Grade 9 student Angelina Wang; and “The Poppies Grew” by Grade 11 Milliken Mills High School student Rida Zainab.

“This Remembrance Day marks the 100th anniversary of the poppy as the official flower of Remembrance and I encourage Markham residents to purchase a poppy in support of the Royal Canadian Legion and take a moment to reflect and pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice and those who continue to serve our country in pursuit of freedom and peace,” said Mayor Frank Scarpitti.

“To the honoured veterans who are still with us, we say thank you. To those who have passed, we will never forget you.”

To provide time to reflect and space to participate safely, the community is invited to place a poppy and pay their respects at Markham’s memorial sites during Remembrance Week, from Nov. 6 to 13.

That includes Markham Village Veterans Square and Cenotaph, on the southeast corner of Markham Road and Highway 7 in Markham Village and the Crosby Memorial Arena Cenotaph, located at 210 Main St. in Unionville.