ESTEVAN - This year's Remembrance Day service, organized by the Royal Canadian Legion’s Estevan branch, will return to the indoor location – the Estevan Comprehensive School gymnasium – for the first time since 2019.
Troy LeBlanc, the chairperson for Estevan's Remembrance Day service, said the doors will open at about 9:50 a.m., and the guests are asked to be at the gymnasium by 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 11. The service will start exactly at 10:45 a.m.
"It'll be our regular service with the memorial service, a list of the honour roll and we will proceed from there into our wreath-laying ceremony," LeBlanc said.
He reminded the public that the first three rows of seats are reserved for the veterans and the dignitaries. If people are not able to climb the stairs, they can also take those seats. But the general public is asked to fill the bleachers first.
Two minutes of silence will be observed at 11 a.m. – the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month: the month, day and time in 1918 when the First World War ended. Along with the rest of the country, those in attendance will be invited to pause to honour the fallen and recognize the sacrifices of servicemen and women.
The service at the gymnasium will include a video presentation. A local cadet will also do a small presentation on Dieppe Raid, which will be a new addition to the ceremony.
Dignitaries, including Mayor Roy Ludwig, Estevan MLA Lori Carr, and a representative of the Souris-Moose Mountain Robert Kitchen, will be among those to partake in the wreath laying.
After the main part, anyone who wants will be welcome to come out for lunch at the legion. And after that, there will be a small wreath-laying service at the Estevan Cenotaph by the courthouse.
All events are open to the public, and everyone is invited to come and honour the veterans.
"Thank you to the community of Estevan for their support and for honouring our veterans and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice," LeBlanc said.
