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Lest we forget
The days leading up to and including November 11 have been set aside in honour of Canada's veterans and the sacrifices they have made serving our country.
Ways to honour our veterans and active service members:
- observe a moment of silence on November 11 @ 11AM
- thank a veteran in person or in social media using #remembranceday
- wear a poppy
- join or support a local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion
Photo credit: Orillia Today
Banner Tribute
The Remembrance Day street banners have returned this year, offering a meaningful way to honour and learn about local Veterans. Spearheaded in collaboration with the City of Orillia, the Downtown Orillia Business Improvement Area (BIA) and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 34, these banners feature images and stories of local Veterans. The banners are displayed along and around Mississaga Street and will be on display until November 12. A map is available to guide you as you explore downtown and discover each veteran’s story.
Select the button to view the list of veterans. Selecting a name will show their location on the map. When viewing the map on a phone, turn your phone horizontally for the best results.
2024 Remembrance Events and Activities
November 1-11
Join fellow residents during the Poppy Campaign in honouring Canada's Veterans and remembering those whose lives were lost for the freedoms we enjoy today by wearing a Poppy. While the Poppy is distributed freely to all who wish to wear one, the Legion gratefully accepts donations to the Poppy Fund.
November 5-11
Each year during Veterans' Week, from November 5 to 11, Canadians remember and honour the brave individuals who served our country in the past, and we recognize those who serve in uniform today.
Orillia Public Library Remembrance Day Event
After ten years, the Library is holding it’s last award-winning Remembrance Event. With brand new displays and interactive activities, the exhibit rooms will feature Canadian military uniforms, artifacts, and memorabilia. This year's event will pay tribute to the D-Day 80th Anniversary and the 100th Anniversary of the RCAF. Military collectors and museum interpreters will be dressed in period costumes and uniforms. The last event will be the best yet! This Remembrance Event has won the ORAH “Education in Heritage Award” and the “Angus Mowat Award of Excellence”. Everyone is invited to stop by for the last event which is free, family-friendly and open to the public.
The event will run on:
- Tuesday, November 5: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 6: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Thursday, November 7: 10 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, November 8: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Saturday, November 9: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Special Museum Day - with additional exhibits from military museums and collectors)
*Please note: The Library is CLOSED on Monday, November 11.
November 8
On November 8, we recognize National Indigenous Veterans Day, where we honour the contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis veterans in the Canadian Armed Forces. For many years, the sacrifices of Indigenous veterans went unrecognized, despite their significant roles in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and other military missions. These brave men and women fought to defend our freedoms, often without the citizenship rights of the country they served.
November 11
November 11, marks the final day of Veterans’ Week with Remembrance Day, and recalls the end of hostilities during the First World War. At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, Canadians gather wherever they are and observe a moment of silence to remember those who have fallen in the line of duty and to recognize their service to our country.
More information on Remembrance Day can be found on the Royal Canadian Legion's website.
The Legion is happy to announce that the annual Remembrance Day ceremony returns to the Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospitals cenotaph on November 11, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Everyone is invited to attend and join the gathering afterward at the Royal Canadian Legion, located at 215 Mississauga Street East. For more information, visit the Royal Canadian Legion or contact local Branch 34 at (705) 325-8442.