Mayor Locke encourages people to attend one of the Remembrance Day Ceremonies

The City of Surrey is encouraging residents to take part in one of the various Remembrance Day ceremonies taking place across the city this Friday. Services will be held at Veteran’s Square at 17610 56A Avenue; at Surrey Centre Cemetery at 16671 Old McLellan Road; at the Whalley Cenotaph at 13633 Grosvenor Road and at the Royal Canadian Legion Crescent Branch at 2643 128th Street. They will occur between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. with the traditional two-minute silent tribute taking place at 11 a.m. Residents are encouraged to arrive early to find parking, or consider walking, biking or taking transit.

"Each year Surrey residents come together to remember and honour the courage and sacrifice of Canadians who have served and continue to serve our country," said Mayor Brenda Locke. "This Friday, let us all take the time, with family and friends, to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. I encourage you to attend one of the Remembrance Day Ceremonies that are taking place across our city."

The largest Remembrance Day ceremony is expected to take place at Veteran’s Square in Cloverdale. It is being presented by the Royal Canadian Legion Cloverdale Branch. There will be a procession at 10 a.m. and a service at 10:25 a.m. at the Cloverdale Cenotaph. The event will be livestreamed from the Heritage Surrey Facebook page and the Surrey Archives and the Museum of Surrey will be open to the public until 1 p.m. For information on road closures visit the City’s website.

According to the Canadian War Memorial website, Canadians recognize Remembrance Day, originally called Armistice Day, every November 11 at 11 a.m. It marks the end of hostilities during the First World War and an opportunity to recall all those who have served in the nation’s defence. Remembrance Day ceremonies are usually held at community cenotaphs and war memorials, or sometimes at schools or in other public places. Two minutes of silence, the playing of the Last Post, the recitation of In Flanders Fields, and the wearing of poppies have become associated with the ceremony.