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As the sun rose on a snowy morning, Torontonians gathered in Prospect Cemetery for a Remembrance Day ceremony honouring veterans and those who died in combat.
The event is the first of several that will mark Remembrance Day across the city.
This year, ceremonies also mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War.
The Prospect Cemetery ceremony is annually held at sunrise to honour the early hours of when the armistice of the First World War was signed, said John Monahan, CEO of the Mount Pleasant Group.
People stood under snow-dusted trees as the drone of bagpipes reverberated around the cemetery’s Field of Honour, which Monahan said was dedicated over a century ago to local soldiers lost in the First World War.
Four silent sentries stood with their heads bowed in front of a monument at the heart of the field, as veterans placed wreaths nearby from various Toronto organizations.
Torontonians gather in the cold to honour Canadian veterans and their service. (Clara Pasieka/CBC)
Most of the ceremony was quiet, aside from the crunch of people walking through the snow and the occasional sniffle.
“Time passes slowly but steadily at the cemetery,” Monahan said. “Today we remember the thousands of soldiers of diverse backgrounds who fought together and we honour their legacy with deep gratitude.”
Mayor Olivia Chow, who attended the ceremony with other local and provincial representatives, said it’s important to remember “the brave Canadians, who fought for freedom, justice and peace.”
“As I watch the snow come down, I’m reminded how cold and difficult it must have been in all the different wars that we’ve lost soldiers,” Chow told reporters after the ceremony.
The mayor is also expected to speak at the ceremony at Old City Hall later on Tuesday.
This year the Toronto Cenotaph at Old City Hall will mark its 100th anniversary.
Premier Doug Ford urged Ontarians to reflect today on the sacrifices made by the Canadian Armed Forces, their families and loved ones in a public statement.
“As we wear poppies and lay our wreaths, I encourage everyone to think of the individual acts of courage and selflessness that these powerful symbols represent,” he said. “And to every veteran, service person and military family in our province — thank you.”
