Remembrance Day in Niagara Falls Archives

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Honoring Heroes on Remembrance Day in Niagara Falls

Remembrance Day in Niagara Falls is a solemn occasion that serves as a heartfelt tribute to the brave men and women of our armed forces who made the ultimate sacrifice since World War I. This day, observed on November 11th, marks the end of hostilities in World War I in 1918. The significance of this date is emphasized by the fact that hostilities officially ceased “at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.”

The red remembrance poppy, inspired by the poignant poem “In Flanders Fields,” has become a universal symbol of Remembrance Day. These vibrant red flowers bloomed amidst the devastating battlefields of Flanders during World War I, a fitting representation of the bloodshed during the war.

City of Niagara Falls Remembrance Day Service

The City of Niagara Falls hosts a Remembrance Day Service to honor the memory of these fallen heroes. This service, held at the Cenotaph beside the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Fairview Cemetery, provides a platform for local veterans’ associations to participate. Mayor Diodati and Members of City Council will be there to show their respect.

This year, the service will continue its tradition of being held outdoors on November 11, 2023, starting at 10:45 a.m. For those who cannot attend in person, the service will be live-streamed, allowing residents to join this solemn occasion from their computers or mobile devices. The live stream will be accessible on November 11, 2023, starting at 10:45 a.m. right here:

Here is a List of Additional Remembrance Day Events Throughout the Region of Niagara:

Services
Municipality	Location	Service date and time
Grimsby	Royal Canadian Legion – Grimsby Branch 127 Cenotaph – Grimsby Museum 6 Murray St.	Saturday, Nov. 11 10:30 a.m.
Lincoln	Royal Canadian Legion – Beamsville Branch 612 Cenotaph – Jordan Lion’s Park 2769 Fourth Ave., Jordan Station	Wednesday, Nov. 8 10:45 a.m.
Lincoln	Royal Canadian Legion – Beamsville Branch 612 Cenotaph – Jacob Beam School 4300 William St., Beamsville	Saturday, Nov. 11 10:45 a.m.
Niagara-on-the-Lake	Royal Canadian Legion – Niagara-on-the-Lake Branch 124 Cenotaph – Queen Street	Saturday, Nov. 11 10:45 a.m.
Niagara-on-the-Lake	Royal Canadian Legion – Niagara-on-the-Lake Branch 124 Cenotaph – Queenston Memorial Intersection at Niagara Parkway and Queenston Street, Queenston	Saturday, Nov. 11 12:30 p.m.
Pelham	Royal Canadian Legion – Branch 613 Veterans Park 141 Hwy. 20 E, Fonthill	Saturday, Nov. 11 10:45 a.m.
Port Colborne	Royal Canadian Legion – Port Colborne Branch 56 Cenotaph – H.H. Knoll Lakeview Park 160 Sugarloaf St. Branch 56 is hosting a light lunch at noon at 67 Clarence St. Watch the ceremony later in the day on the City of Port Colborne website and social media channels	Saturday, Nov. 11 10:30 a.m.
St. Catharines	Royal Canadian Legion Branch 418 10 a.m. – Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Oblate St. 11 a.m. – Wreath laying ceremony at Canadian Polish Society, 43 Facer St. followed by greetings from federal, provincial and municipal governments	Sunday, Nov. 5 11 a.m.
St. Catharines	Lincoln and Welland Regiment Cenotaph – Memorial Park 6 St. Paul St. W Wreath laying ceremony with the Duchess of Kent, Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones	Sunday, Nov. 5 10:30 a.m.
St. Catharines	Royal Canadian Legion Branch 350 Cenotaph – Main and Ann streets 10:15 a.m. – Short service at Port Dalhousie Legion, 57 Lakeport Rd. 10:25 a.m. – Parade to the Cenotaph 11 a.m. – Wreath laying ceremony and greetings	Sunday, Nov. 5 11 a.m.
St. Catharines	Royal Canadian Legion – St. Catharines Branch 24 Cenotaph – Memorial Park, 6 St. Paul St. W 10 a.m. – Gather at City Hall, 50 Church St. with wreath laying at the Honour Rolls and the Legion Cenotaph 10:30 a.m. – Parade to Cenotaph 10:45 a.m. – Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph	Saturday, Nov. 11 10:45 a.m.
St. Catharines	Royal Canadian Legion – St. Catharines Branch 138 Cenotaph – Memorial Park Merritt Street and Walnut Street 10:30 a.m. – Gather at Merritton Legion, 2 Chestnut St. E followed by parade to Cenotaph 11 a.m. – Remembrance Day service at Cenotaph	Saturday, Nov. 11 11 a.m.
Thorold	Royal Canadian Legion – Thorold Branch 17 Cenotaph – Memorial Park 13 Albert St. E	Saturday, Nov. 11 10:55 a.m.
Welland	Cenotaph – Chippawa Park Welland Crowland War Memorial, 128 Fitch St.	Saturday, Nov. 11 10:30 a.m.
Welland	Royal Canadian Legion – Welland Branch 4 383 Morningstar Ave.	Saturday, Nov. 11 10:30 a.m.
West Lincoln	Royal Canadian Legion – Smithville Branch 393 Cenotaph – 172 St. Catharines St., Smithville 10:30 a.m. – Ceremony followed by a free lunch by the Branch 393 Ladies Auxiliary	Saturday, Nov. 11 10:30 a.m.

Reading Time: 3 minutes -We were very honoured this Remembrance Day to welcome a special guest to Clifton Hill. 44-year old Canadian war veteran, Ed Brown (from British Columbia), joined the drama students from Niagara Falls’ Stamford Collegiate High School to board the Niagara SkyWheel.
Earlier that day, Stamford Collegiate students performed their Sears Drama Festival-winning play, “Invisible Wounds” in front of Ed Brown, the man in which this play is based upon. Brown wrote a book entitled “A Soldier’s Fortune and Other Poems: Moving past PTSD and creating a fun-loving life.” This book was a way for him to cope with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) after his time in war. PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can develop after a person is exposed to one or more traumatic events, such as sexual assault, warfare, traffic collisions, terrorism or any other threats on a person’s life. In this book, Ed Brown wrote a collection of heart-felt poems — poems in which inspired these students to reach out to the publisher, who in turn contacted Ed Brown.
Brown was a former soldier who served a 19-year military career. He was sent on peacekeeping missions in Isreal, Syria, Turkey, and the former Yugoslavia, and was so very touched when he found out that students were creating a play adaption of his book. So much so, that he flew over from British Columbia on Remembrance Day to watch the performance himself, thanks to the non-profit organization, Wounded Warriors Canada. Wounded Warriors supports Canada’s ill and injured armed forces members, veterans, plus their families.
“Invisible Wounds” was introduced in May 2015 when Stamford Collegiate hosted a DSBN Mental Health Night in front of teachers and mental health partners. It then went on to receive the top prize at the DSBN’s Sears Drama Festival.
The drama students were so excited to have Ed Brown join them in Niagara Falls that they decided to take him out to dinner, plus give him a tour of Niagara Falls and the Clifton Hill District.
We hope to have him back again soon, and special mention to Stamford Collegiate High School for their amazing production, kind hearts, and for welcoming one of our war heroes around Niagara Falls, Canada.
**About the book: Psychologist Agnes Sawchyn says that Ed writes “with unflinching frankness and emotional honesty… Ed extends a message of hope to others by describing what, in the end, made his journey back to health possible and worth navigating: his love for his children, the apprehension and joy of experiencing new love, the simple beauties of nature, and an irrepressible sense of humour and playfulness.”

About “Invisible Wounds” (care of TV Cogeco Niagara)