Statement from Mayor Berry Vrbanovic on Remembrance Day

Today, residents in the City of Kitchener will gather with Canadians in communities large and small from coast to coast to coast to mark Remembrance Day and honour the brave women and men who served our country in times of war, military conflict and peacekeeping missions.

Remembrance Day is an opportunity to pause, reflect and pay tribute to all those who have answered the call to serve. We remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, veterans who returned home carrying the lasting impacts of service, members of the Canadian Armed Forces, reservists and cadets who continue to serve today, and the families and loved ones who support them through that service. Together, they have helped defend the values and freedoms we hold dear.

Here in Kitchener, remembrance is reflected in the places and traditions we share. Whether at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, built as a lasting tribute to those whose service and sacrifice shaped our community, or at the Kitchener Cenotaph, we continue to honour the legacy of veterans and military families whose contributions have helped build the country and community we know today.

As we wear our poppies and gather in remembrance, we are reminded that the freedoms we enjoy today were secured through extraordinary courage, service and sacrifice. We also recognize our shared responsibility to keep these stories alive for future generations and to ensure that those who served are never forgotten.

On behalf of the City, my Council colleagues and our residents,  I encourage everyone to take a moment today at 11am to reflect, remember and express our gratitude. In doing so, we honour those who served and reaffirm our commitment to the values they fought to protect.

Lest we forget.