Mobile cenotaph at Red Deer Legion Branch # 35. (rdnewsNOW / Sheldon Spackman)

By Alessia Proietti

November 11th Together

Remembrance Day ceremonies across Central Alberta

Nov 10, 2021 | 11:44 AM

This Remembrance Day, people are beginning to remember once again in the company of others across Central Alberta.

In Red Deer, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #35 will be hosting their ceremony at 10:30 a.m. at the Servus Arena, following the Restrictions Exemption program.

“Last year the weather was pretty cold and we laid our wreaths at the cemetery, just myself and the dignitaries that came and RCMP officers that helped. [But] it’s good to do things as usual,” said Bev Haines, Legion president.

On Nov. 7, the Legion also held a musical remembrance performance titled Lest We Forget at the Kinsmen Fieldhouse, part of St. Joseph’s High School.

“Everyone remember to remember on Nov. 11,” said Haines.

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At the same time, an outdoor service will also be held at the Downtown’s Cenotaph, where the Red Deer Regiment will remember fallen soldiers.

In Rocky Mountain House, a virtual ceremony will be held on Remembrance Day at 10:50 a.m. by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #8. The in-person event will be for invited veterans, executive members, and dignitaries. Wreaths can be bought in advance at the Legion and placed at the cenotaph if requested.

In Penhold, a ceremony was held at the Cenotaph on Nov. 5 in the Multiplex,. and while not open to the public, it was live streamed and may be watched again on their website. There will be a condensed video version of the ceremony available online Nov. 10. Wreaths laid during the ceremony will also remain at the Cenotaph until Nov. 12.

In Innisfail, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #104 will be hosting an outdoor ceremony Nov. 11 at 10:45 a.m. walking to the Cenotaph to lay wreaths. It will be livestreamed on their Facebook and website. Their Club Room will be open to members and the adult public after the ceremony at 1 p.m., where a live performance will be held by the band “Walking on Sunshine”. Proof of vaccination or a 72-hour negative COVID-19 test result will be required.

In Olds, there will be a service on Nov. 11 at 10:15 a.m. in the Legion Auditorium at the Royal Canadian Legion #105. Due to limited space, those who wish to attend must have pre-registered by calling the Legion at 403-556-6406 or email emailrcl@rcl105.ca. The event may be live-streamed on their Facebook page as well. The Restrictions Exemption program will be in place for attendees and refreshments will be available in the lounge after the service.

In Sylvan Lake, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #212 and the Town will be hosting a service together on Remembrance Day at 10:30 a.m. and live-stream it on the Town’s website. The live ceremony is by invitation and will consist of roughly 70 veterans. There will then be a public outdoor service scheduled at the Cenotaph for 2 p.m., where many guests will also be present such as flag bearers, trumpeters, government officials, Legion executives, and military representatives. The legion will be open during the day to visitors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., following Alberta Health regulations. The poppy campaign has also been collecting donations in 20 stores across the city and held a drive-through donation event on Nov. 6 at the Legion’s neighboring parking lot.

In Lacombe, the Legion Branch #79 will be hosting an outdoor service on Remembrance Day at 10:30 a.m. at Lest We Forget Park located outside the Lacombe Memorial Centre. Up to 200 people can attend, as regulated by Alberta Health, but those returning to the Legion’s Lounge will need to follow the Restrictions Exemption program. While they will not be doing live ceremonies at local schools, they did raise the Veterans Voices of Canada Flags of Remembrance outside the Pentagon Farm Centre. A new annual tradition to the city since September, the flags will be brought down on Nov. 12 at 10 a.m., and the city asks any volunteers to help if available.

In Ponoka, an indoor service will be held for veterans, dignitaries, and legion members only on Nov. 11 at the Royal Canadian Legion #66 Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium. Doors will open at 10:15 a.m. but the ceremony will begin at 10:45 a.m. and will be livestreamed on their Facebook page. The Restrictions Exemption program will be in effect for attendees and while there will be no outdoor parade or social function afterwards, donations are still welcome in support of veterans and Legion programs.

In Blackfalds, no service will be held by the Blackfalds Ministerial Society as a result of the provincial State of Emergency. The Town, however, encourages citizens to pay their respects at the Veterans Monument at the Abbey Centre.

In Bowden, as the town does not have a legion or cenotaph, they are directing citizens to visit ceremonies in nearby towns like Innisfail and Olds.

In Stettler, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #59 will be holding an outdoor ceremony of up to 200 people on Nov. 11 at 10:45 a.m. in Sharpe’s Memorial Park, beginning with two minutes of silence. With the poppy campaign currently taking donations, the Legion is also open from Nov. 8-10 for the sale of wreaths, and new or renewed memberships.