Remembrance Day

Why We Must Remember

The commemoration of Remembrance Day reminds all of us why we must remember those who gave their lives to defend our values, rights and freedoms.

Remembrance Day is not just for the military and veterans, but for all Canadians and their families, who are lucky enough to live peacefully in a world where wars and armed conflicts are all too often on the front page. On the battlefields of Europe, in peace missions to the Middle East or in other parts of the world, our military bear witness to the freedom we enjoy, as Canadians, to express ourselves and act according to our convictions and with respect for others.

Fully appreciating the legacy of the generations before us and expressing our thanks to those who sacrificed their lives to defend our rights and freedoms is a daily duty. Remembering their dreams, courage and sacrifices is the least we can do to show our gratitude to the men and women who died for the ideals of freedom and values that we all hold dear.

A Legacy and a Commitment for the Future

• Commemoration of the Armistice
  
  The First World War came to an end on November 11, 1918, when the Armistice was signed at Compiègne, France. From that day on, November 11 has been dedicated as Armistice Day in memory of the Canadians who served their country overseas and all those who sacrificed their lives for the cause. Still, it was only in 1931 that the Parliament of Canada officially declared November 11 the memorial date of the Armistice, to be known as "Remembrance Day."

• Canadians’ War Service
  
  During the First World War (1914–1918), the Second World War (1939–1945) and the Korean War (1950–1953), more than 1 500 000 Canadians served in the armed forces and more than 100 000 of them gave their lives to defend our rights and freedoms. More than anyone, the veterans are aware of the sacrifices made and the value of the legacy passed on to us.

• Canada’s Commitment Today
  
  The role Canada plays changed after the Korean War. While Canada’s participation in previous conflicts took the form of an unprecedented mobilization of troops and resources to drive the war effort, its contribution has now changed to active participation in targeted military operations, such in Afghanistan, or peace support missions in other parts of the world.
  
  Since 1947, Canada has taken part in more than 60 peacekeeping missions and still contributes to many of these operations today.

Resources for Remembering

• On the Web site of Veterans Affairs Canada, Canada Remembers is a great resource to:
  • learn about Canadian participation in wars and battles; 
  • see what heroes remember; 
  • research about family members who served in the armed forces; 
  • consult digital versions of the Books of Remembrance or the Canadian Virtual War Memorial; 
  • commemorate milestones in Canadian military history over the past two centuries.

• Soldiers of the First World War – CEF is a Library and Archives Canada database with online access to more than 800 000 digital documents based on the personal files of Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) members. This could be where you find a family member’s war experience.

• The Canada and the First World War virtual exhibition of Library and Archives Canada illustrates the many roles that Canadian men and women played during the First World War, and the definite mark the war left on our society. 

• Democracy at War: Canadian Newspapers and the Second World War is a digital collection of more than 144 000 newspaper articles, documenting events during the Second World War. 

• The Canadian War Museum tells Canada’s rich military history, from earliest times to today, through the war experiences of ordinary people, both on the battlefield and in the home. 

• Topics: Conflict and War from the CBC Archives has links to a large collection of TV and radio clips on the part Canada played in the wars and conflicts of the past century. 

• Canada and Peace Operations tells us about Canada’s role in keeping the peace and how it has participated in more than 60 peace support operations around the world since the 1950s. 

• The virtual exhibition Remembrances: Canada and the Second World War brings Canada’s participation in the Second World War to life through images, stories and multimedia clips.