The City of Barrie is asking residents to mark Remembrance Day (Nov. 11th) this year at home or virtually.
Every year, Barrie’s Royal Canadian Legion Branch and the City join communities across Canada in commemorating Remembrance Day.
But this year, the City is making the ask of residents following advice from the Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit.
The City is letting people know there will be no public ceremony at the Memorial Square cenotaph and residents are advised against gathering at the cenotaph on November 11th.
Instead, the city says there are several ways to reflect, honour, and remember that day from the safety of your home.
They include:
- Tuning in to an online or televised ceremony (a livestream of a private, invite-only ceremony hosted by Barrie’s Royal Canadian Legion Branch will be available on local media channel websites on November 11th)
- Observe two minutes of silence at 11 am.
- Wear a poppy and support the Poppy campaign
- Learn about Remembrance Day and the stories of those we honour
- Reach out to a Veteran by phone or email to say thank you
- Students can also send a note to a Veteran through Postcards for Peace
- Submit a photo of a relative or friend to be included on the Virtual Wall of Honour & Remembrance
The City honours, remembers, and commemorates Barrie’s fallen soldiers by featuring pictures of local veterans on flags displayed throughout Meridian Place and around the entire waterfront to Tiffin St., as well as through the Barrie’s Fallen database on the City’s website.
If you would like to lay a wreath at the Memorial Square cenotaph, you are asked to place an order with the Barrie Legion by November 4th or drop a wreath off at the Legion Hall (410 St. Vincent Street, driveway entrance off of Ferris Lane) between 12 and 4 pm on November 10th or prior to 9 am on November 11th.
The wreaths will be respectfully placed at the cenotaph in downtown Barrie, and anyone wishing to keep their wreath can pick it up from the cenotaph on November 12th.
Veterans also ride Barrie Transit free of charge, with one companion, all day on Remembrance Day by showing anything that identifies status as a veteran.
The City of #Barrie is asking residents to pay their respects from home or virtually for Remembrance Day. Following the advice of the Health Unit, no public ceremony will be hosted at the cenotaph: https://t.co/uUKhixcnzi. pic.twitter.com/gY0WqXbNEg
— The City of Barrie (@cityofbarrie) October 27, 2020
