November 11, 2018 marks the centenary of the Armistice, which brought an end to the First World War.
There were many people from Vancouver who served in WWI, “including not only those with strong connections to Europe but also Chinese Canadians, Japanese Canadians and members of local First Nations,” explains the Vancouver Heritage Foundation. “The devastating losses were felt by all.”
Since Armistice 100 years ago, Vancouver has seen the addition of several monuments and the creation of special places that are there for remembrance and reflection, and to honour those who gave their lives for the country.
The Vancouver Heritage Foundation has created a list of TK places of remembrance in Vancouver–many of which will be the site of special Remembrance Day ceremonies today. Take some time when you can to check out the VHF’s site that describes these important spots, and hopefully you can spend some time at these monuments and places of remembrance.
Bells of Peace
You can also take some time today at sunset to listen to Bells of Peace; it’s a Canada-wide event that will find communities across Canada marking the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War with the ringing of 100 bells.
“The ringing of bells emulates the moment in 1918 when church bells across Europe tolled as four years of war had come to an end. As the sun sets, churches from the east coast to the west will ring their bells, sending a wave of remembrance across the nation,” explains the VHF.
In Vancouver, this will be 4:36pm. Christ Church Cathedral and Holy Rosary Cathedral have both confirmed their participation. For more information on the Bells for Peace visit the Royal Canadian Legion website or search #100Bells on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
11 Places of Remembrance in Vancouver
- Winged Victory (located outside Waterfront Station)
- Mountain View Cemetery Fields of Honour
- Japanese Canadian War Memorial in Stanley Park
- Victory Square and Cenotaph
- Chinatown Memorial Plaza
- Burrard Bridge Braziers
- War Memorial Gym at UBC
- Air Force Garden of Remembrance in Stanley Park
- Canadian Memorial United Church (W. 15th Ave. and Burrard St.)
- Memorial South Park and Cenotaph (E. 41st Ave. near Knight St.)
- Memorial West Park (Dunbar St.)
