Last Monday was Remembrance Day, a national — and even international — observance of the sacrifices made by members of armed forces in support of freedom and other ubiquitous values.
This year marked the 106th anniversary of the end of World War I — with ceasefire occurring at 11:00 a.m. on November 11, 1918. Since then, Remembrance Day has become a symbol of recognition for those who fought in the war and in later conflicts, as well as the families who supported them.
To show their appreciation and respect, Canadians all across the country wore poppies, observed two minutes of silence, and attended ceremonies. Here at York, the Keele, Glendon, and Markham campuses held their own ceremonies for Remembrance Day.
York’s Iinterim Provost David Peters was present at the ceremony at the Keele campus, and shared comments with attendees: “Each year, York joins communities across Canada in honouring those who have served. I encourage you to take the time to learn about the many people who have served — including women, Indigenous people, Black Canadians, Chinese Canadians, and others.”
The ceremony was held in the Harry W. Arthurs Common in front of Vari Hall and included the laying of wreaths on behalf of various groups of York community members, including faculty, staff, students, retirees, and alumni.
Peters, who is also the dean of the Faculty of Health, tied the act of Remembrance back to current events, stating: “In a time of global conflict, we must support diplomatic efforts for peace and explore solutions for dignity, security, and prosperity for all.”
At Keele, Peters also tied the ceremony back to the university and its values, encouraging attendees to “reflect on both your own capacity as a global citizen as well as the opportunities to drive positive change that are available to you through York.” The university, he explains, was founded with principles like “social responsibility, public service, justice, respect, diversity, equity and inclusion” in mind, and students should use these values to guide their work in a way that honours the sacrifices of veterans and those who lost their lives in war.
