Canadians across the country are gathering on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, to honour military veterans and remember the men and women who lost their lives serving and defending Canada.
The annual Remembrance Day ceremonies are taking place at cenotaphs, war memorials, military cemeteries and community centres nationwide, with Canadians pausing to reflect on the sacrifices made during wars, military operations and peacekeeping missions.
The national ceremony is being held at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, where Prime Minister Mark Carney, Governor General Louise Arbour and other dignitaries are expected to lay wreaths in honour of fallen service members. Three Second World War veterans are also expected to attend.
This year’s national ceremony carries particular significance as Canada marks 25 years since the beginning of its military involvement in Afghanistan. Approximately 40,000 Canadian Armed Forces members served during the conflict, which lasted more than 12 years and became the longest war in Canadian history. A total of 159 Canadian military personnel lost their lives.
The ceremony will also feature a wreath-laying by Virginia Hicks, this year’s National Silver Cross Mother. She will represent mothers across Canada who have lost children in military service. Hicks’ daughter died in a training incident at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa in 2002.
Military aircraft are also expected to take part in commemorations across the country. CF-18 fighter jets and a Black Hawk helicopter are scheduled to conduct flypasts over the national ceremony in Ottawa, while Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft will appear over ceremonies in several communities.
In Toronto, multiple services are taking place, including the main ceremony at Old City Hall Cenotaph, where Mayor Olivia Chow is scheduled to deliver remarks. Other commemorations are being held across the Greater Toronto Area and in communities throughout the country.
This year’s Remembrance Day also comes weeks after a deadly training accident at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta. Four soldiers — Sgt. Morgan Wong, Pte. Shaun Farrell, Pte. Aidan Goulding and Pte. Hayden Lykkemark — were killed when strong winds carried a grass fire across a military training area. Dozens of others were injured, with the Department of National Defence reporting 39 injured personnel. Investigations into the incident are ongoing. A separate Remembrance Day ceremony is being held at the base.
The year 2026 also marks the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion, an organisation established in 1926 to advocate for veterans and their families. It is also the 150th anniversary of the Royal Military College of Canada, with approximately 300 cadets expected to participate in the Ottawa parade.
Across the country, Remembrance Day remains an important occasion for Canadians to recognise the courage, service and sacrifice of those who served in uniform. Through wreath-laying ceremonies, moments of silence and public gatherings, communities are renewing their commitment to remember those who gave their lives for the country.
Swifteradio.com
