The following statement was issued by Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua to commemorate Remembrance Day:

“Every year, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we observe two minutes of silence in honour of the brave Canadians who served and continue to serve our country in times of war, conflict and peace. On Remembrance Day, we pause to demonstrate our respect and give thanks for the unimaginable sacrifices made in the name of duty, democracy and freedom. 

“Today, we remember the fallen service members and keep them close to our hearts with a poppy pinned to our chest. It is a meaningful symbol of our unwavering gratitude for their extraordinary courage and selflessness. 

“Tens of thousands of Canadian men and women made the ultimate sacrifice, and thousands of veterans live with the deep-rooted scars of war. Yet, their heroism has afforded generations of Canadians to live freely, with equity, dignity, and without discrimination. We also recognize the family members – parents, siblings, spouses and children – who have given up precious time with their loved ones in the name of our country. For this, we are forever grateful. 

“This year, I encourage citizens to explore the City’s virtual Remembrance exhibits – “Vaughan’s Forgotten Heroes” and “Stories of Remembrance,” which showcase deeply personal war artifacts from former residents of Vaughan. Both virtual exhibits will be available at vaughan.ca/RemembranceDay until Friday, Nov. 26.

“Our veterans fought for a very noble cause – to ensure a better, safer and brighter future for people in Canada and around the world. It is now our duty to protect the freedoms they handed down to us, so their lives were not lost in vain. We owe them an immeasurable debt of gratitude for the invaluable gifts they have bestowed upon us. We will never forget.”

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