Toronto Remembrance Day Ceremony schedules 2023
City of Toronto will hold 7 Remembrance Day ceremonies on November 11
The City of Toronto will host several Remembrance Day ceremonies on Saturday, November 11, to honour Canadians who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country during times of war, military conflict and peace. Mayor Olivia Chow will deliver remarks during the ceremony at Old City Hall.
Remembrance Day ceremony at Old City Hall Cenotaph
- Silent Sentries, drawn from the 48th Highlanders of Canada and HMCS York, will stand vigil at the four corners of the cenotaph with heads bowed and rifles reversed (reverse arms). They will wear historic uniforms from different periods and the present day.
- Weather permitting, the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association will conduct a flypast with missing man formation over Old City Hall at 11:05 a.m., East York Civic Centre at 11:08 a.m. and York Cemetery at 11:25 a.m. The Harvards were used to train members of the Royal Canadian Air Force and other air forces for air combat in the Second World War.
- This year, the City of Toronto’s Remembrance Day commemorations will focus on significant milestones, including the following:
- 70th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement (July 27)
- 75th anniversary of Canadian participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions (National Peacekeepers’ Day, August 9)
- 100th anniversary of the Naval Reserve of Canada and HMCS York (September 23).
- The “Act of Remembrance” will be read by Corporal Alan Roy, a Métis veteran of the Korean War.
- Corporal Roy is a third-generation military member in Canada
- His grandfather served in the First World War, lying about his age and going overseas to France at 16. He also served in the Second World War as the training officer for the North Shore, New Brunswick Regiment.
- Corporal Roy’s father served overseas in the Second World War in Newfoundland with the Royal Canadian Air Force as a radio operator on antisubmarine patrols.
- The Commitment to Remember is read by Stephen Mensah, Executive Director for the Toronto Youth Cabinet. A youth traditionally reads the Commitment to Remember to represent the next generation.
- The final wreaths will be laid by:
- Corporal Alan Roy to honour the fallen in this 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice
- Tom Aldred, veteran and President, Canadian Association of Veterans in UN Peacekeeping, Buffalo 461 Chapter, to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice in United Nations peacekeeping missions.
- In Flanders Fields by John McCrae will be sung by the acclaimed Elmer Iseler Singers conducted by Lydia Adams, accompanied by the 7th Regiment Band. The arrangement was created by Lydia Adams with music by the Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces.
- The City flies two significant flags on November 11: a Canadian flag that flew at Vimy Ridge in 2020 will be raised at Coronation Park and a City of Toronto flag that flew at Juno Beach in 2019 on Vimy Day will be raised at City Hall.
- On November 11, the City half-mast flags at Civic Centres and other locations to commemorate those who fell in service to Canada.
- For the third year, an illuminated poppy is displayed in the Toronto Sign in Nathan Phillips Square until November 11, in support of the Royal Canadian Legion’s annual poppy campaign.
- For those unable to attend the November 11 ceremony in person, the City will livestream the ceremony on the City’s official YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/thecityoftoronto, starting at 10:45 a.m. It will feature closed captioning and be available to anyone with an internet or mobile connection. The programme is available on the City’s website.
- The following streets near Old City Hall will be closed or have traffic restrictions from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, November 11. TTC streetcars and buses will be diverted:
- Bay Street, from Albert Street to Richmond Street West
- Local access only to Albert Street from Bay Street southbound
- Queen Street West, from Bay Street to east of York Street
Note: Queen Street West from Yonge Street to Bay Street and James Street are currently closed for Metrolinx Ontario Line construction. York Street will be closed southbound from Queen Street West for construction.
Toronto Remembrance Day ceremonies at other locations:
In addition to Old City Hall, the City will also host in-person Remembrance Day ceremonies on November 11 at 10:45 a.m. at the following locations:
- East York Civic Centre Memorial Gardens (850 Coxwell Ave.)
- Etobicoke Civic Centre Cenotaph (399 The West Mall)
- Fort York National Historic Site – Garrison Common (100 Garrison Rd. – begins at 10:40 a.m.)
- North York Cenotaph in York Cemetery (160 Beecroft Rd.)
- Scarborough War Memorial (2190 Kingston Rd.)
- York Civic Centre Cenotaph (2700 Eglinton Ave. W.)
The Old City Hall service on November 11 will be broadcast live on the City’s YouTube channel.
Road closures for Old City Hall Remembrance Day service:
The following streets near Old City Hall will be closed from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, November 11. TTC streetcars and buses will be diverted:
- Bay Street from Albert Street to Richmond Street West
- Local access only to Albert Street from southbound Bay Street
- Queen Street West from Bay Street to east of York Street
Watch Toronto’s Remembrance Day Service on YouTube
The Old City Hall service on November 11 will be broadcast live on the City’s YouTube channel.
Road closures for Old City Hall Remembrance Day service:
The following streets near Old City Hall will be closed from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, November 11. TTC streetcars and buses will be diverted:
- Bay Street from Albert Street to Richmond Street West
- Local access only to Albert Street from southbound Bay Street
- Queen Street West from Bay Street to east of York Street
Information about the City’s Remembrance Week commemorations is available on the City’s Toronto Remembers webpage.
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Information provided by City of Toronto
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