What Remembrance Day marks
Remembrance Day, November 11, honours the men and women who have served and died in Canada’s military in times of war, conflict and peace. The date marks the armistice that ended fighting in the First World War, which took effect at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918 — the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. The day was originally called Armistice Day.
The moment of silence
National ceremonies, including the one at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, are timed so that a period of silence falls at 11 a.m. Communities, schools and workplaces across the country hold their own ceremonies and observe the silence at the same hour. This countdown ends at the first moment of the day; the ceremony is at 11 a.m. local time.
The poppy
Many Canadians wear a red poppy in the weeks before the day. The poppy is linked to the poem “In Flanders Fields”, written in 1915 by the Canadian doctor and soldier John McCrae. The Royal Canadian Legion’s Poppy Campaign supports veterans and typically begins at the end of October.
Where ceremonies are held
Ceremonies take place at cenotaphs and war memorials in cities, towns and schools, and many are led by branches of the Royal Canadian Legion. At the National War Memorial in Ottawa, a Silver Cross Mother lays a wreath on behalf of the mothers of Canadians who died serving. If you plan to attend, check the start time with your local organisers and arrive early.
The date and the day off
November 11 never moves. Remembrance Day is a general holiday in Alberta and several other provinces and territories, but not in every one, so check the rules for your own province. If you are organising a ceremony or a school assembly, the countdown timer can time the silence and the clock keeps the programme on schedule. You can embed the countdown on a community page. Halloween comes eleven days before, and US Thanksgiving follows within about two weeks.
More countdowns
Need a different date? Use the countdown to any date or count up with time since a date.
Questions
What date is Remembrance Day this year?
Remembrance Day is always November 11. The countdown above always shows the next one, so it is right for the current year without any lookup. The weekday changes from year to year, but the date does not.
Why is Remembrance Day at 11 a.m.?
The armistice that ended fighting in the First World War took effect at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Ceremonies are timed so that the silence falls at that hour.
Is Remembrance Day a statutory holiday in Alberta?
Yes. Remembrance Day is one of Alberta’s general holidays, but it is not a holiday in every province and territory. Check the rules for the province where you live and work.
Why do people wear poppies?
The red poppy is tied to the poem “In Flanders Fields”, written in 1915 by John McCrae. Many Canadians wear one in the weeks before November 11 to remember those who served, and the Royal Canadian Legion’s Poppy Campaign supports veterans.