Local Legion branches share plans for COVID-safe Remembrance Day ceremonies

While the province has recently announced a lifting of capacity limits on public events, including Remembrance Day ceremonies, we're still seeing a variety of approaches to observances here in the region – with many of our local Royal Canadian Legion branches opting for a COVID-safe ceremony. 

Looking first to Kitchener, members of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 50 in Kitchener will be gathering as planned at the cenotaph located between Frederick Street and Duke Street for a smaller ceremony with limited attendance – as Branch 50 President Pam Barrager noted that there will not be a parade this year as well. 

“Protocols are still in effect with regards to COVID – they're not as harsh as they used to be, but there's no parade. We can't stop the public from showing up, but we are not promoting a large gathering either.” said Barrager. “We're not encouraging anybody to just come down to it – so I would suggest they don't… but if they do, I can't do anything about it.”

Barrager noted that, while the ION train will momentarily be stopped at 11 a.m., there will still be traffic moving on the nearby street – as she expressed concern over the safety of members of the public that may be crossing the road. 

As an alternative to attending that ceremony in-person, Barrager encouraged those that want to show their respect for the sacrifices of our veterans to make a donation to the KW Poppy Fund, as she noted that there have been some funding issues since last year's shutdown due to the pandemic. 

“We're trying to make up for it and hoping it'll be better this year than last. We're going to continue on as we always do, and next year's the future – we hope everything will be going back to normal.”

In Cambridge, members of the Royal Canadian Legion's Branch 126 will also be holding a limited ceremony at the Cenotaph on King Street in Preston – pre-laying most of their wreaths and opting to again avoid a parade due to COVID and social distancing requirements. In addition, Branch 126 president Sherrill Hyde said there will not be a lunch gathering following the ceremony as seen in previous years.

“We can't stop people from attending, but we encourage them to drive by and pay respects at the cenotaph after the service… or they can go up after the service and lay their own wreath…” said Hyde. “Usually we have maybe one-thousand or so attend our service every year and they're piled into the street, packed in the cenotaph (…) we're just trying to stay away from that for right now, and hopefully next year we can go back to the old ways… but not this year. It's just too soon.”

Branch 126 will be hosing a Veteran's Dinner at the Preston Legion on Westminster Dr. N. later in the evening on Thursday, inviting members of the public to attend – as Hyde notes that veterans will be eating for free. In addition, Hyde said that serving duties during that Remembrance Day event are usually handled by members of the local cadet branch, though this year's service will be done by local representatives from police, fire and paramedic services due to COVID-19 concerns.

In Hespeler, Branch 272 of the Royal Canadian Legion will be hosting a Remembrance Day ceremony in their sizeable parking lot, as Branch President Harry Boomer notes that the Legion has been planning for a ceremony at that location long before the province announced a lifting of capacity restrictions.

“We certainly abide by the protocol from the government and the health board on everything to do with COVID, but we have a pretty enormous parking lot, a pretty enormous lounge and a pretty enormous hall… so the invite for people to attend the service and come into the branch for a bowl of chili or something after is still going to be there – the same as it would be if we were downtown.”