Remembrance Day in Canada (French: Jour du Souvenir) is observed each year on November 11 to honour the service and sacrifice of those who have served—and those who continue to serve—in Canada’s armed forces, in times of war, conflict, and peace. The national observance includes a two-minute silence at 11:00 a.m., wreath-laying ceremonies across the country, and commemorative traditions such as wearing the red poppy.
| Date | November 11 (every year), with a two-minute silence at 11:00 a.m. |
|---|---|
| Core elements | National ceremony in Ottawa • Local cenotaph services • Two-minute silence • Last Post/Reveille • Wreaths & crosses • Poppy wearing |
| Symbol | Red poppy (Royal Canadian Legion) |
| Flag protocol | Federal half-masting at sunrise to sunset; special protocols at the National War Memorial |
| Holiday status | Federal statutory holiday; status varies by province/territory (see below) |
Meaning and date
Remembrance Day marks the moment the First World War armistice took effect on 11 November 1918. Canada’s national observance honours all who served and those who died in the service of Canada in the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War, recent operations, and peace support missions.
National ceremony (Ottawa)
The national ceremony takes place at the National War Memorial and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It typically includes the arrival of dignitaries and veterans, the sounding of the Last Post, the two-minute silence at 11:00, Reveille, the laying of wreaths, prayers and readings (often including the “Ode of Remembrance”), the Royal Anthem and national anthem, and a march-past of veterans and serving members. Royal Canadian Air Force flypasts and gun salutes may accompany major ceremonies.
Local ceremonies across Canada
Communities gather at cenotaphs, legions, and schools. Many observances follow a common order of service: colour parties, readings, the two-minute silence, wreath-laying by officials, veterans, families and community groups, and a veterans’ march-past. Media carry live broadcasts from Ottawa and regional services.
The poppy and the Remembrance period
The red poppy—rooted in John McCrae’s 1915 poem In Flanders Fields—is Canada’s best-known symbol of remembrance. The Royal Canadian Legion leads the annual Poppy Campaign; Canadians typically wear the poppy from the last Friday in October until November 11. Voluntary donations support the Legion’s Poppy Fund for veterans and their families.
Holiday status and business rules (overview)
Remembrance Day is a federal statutory holiday (federally regulated workplaces and federal institutions observe it). Provincial/territorial treatment varies:
- Statutory holiday: Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
- Special observance laws (not a general paid statutory holiday): Manitoba (Retail business restrictions; closures until early afternoon) and Nova Scotia (Remembrance Day Act retail restrictions).
- Not a provincial statutory holiday: Ontario and Quebec (many organizations still hold ceremonies or close voluntarily).
Schools and employers across Canada often pause for ceremonies and the two-minute silence regardless of formal holiday status.
Flag protocol and military honours
On November 11, the National Flag of Canada is usually half-masted on federal buildings from sunrise to sunset. Ceremonial elements commonly include honour guards, gun salutes, RCAF flypasts, and the reading of names at local memorials. Veterans, serving members, cadets, police and first responders often participate.
History (brief)
- 1919: First Armistice Day ceremonies held on or near November 11.
- 1921–1930: Armistice Day linked to Thanksgiving on the Monday of the week in which November 11 fell.
- 1931: Parliament fixed the observance on November 11 and renamed it Remembrance Day.
- Post-1945 to present: Observance broadened to honour service and sacrifice in all conflicts and peace operations. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa (2000) became a central focus of national remembrance.
Traditions and readings
Common elements include the two-minute silence; the bugle calls Last Post and Reveille; recitation of the “Ode of Remembrance” (from Laurence Binyon’s For the Fallen); and readings of In Flanders Fields. Wreaths, poppy crosses, and the placing of poppies on memorials or on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are widely practised.
Education and community
Schools, museums, and community organizations run programs in the weeks leading to November 11, including veteran talks, exhibits, and classroom resources on Canada’s military history and civic remembrance.
See also
- Canadian Armed Forces • Royal Canadian Legion • National War Memorial (Ottawa)
- Veterans Affairs Canada • Canadian War Museum • Public safety in Canada
- Remembrance poppy • In Flanders Fields
External links (official)
- Veterans Affairs Canada — Remembrance Day: https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance
- Royal Canadian Legion — The Poppy & Poppy Campaign: https://www.legion.ca/remembrance/the-poppy
- Canadian Heritage — Half-masting rules for the National Flag: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/flag-canada-masting-rules.html