Kelowna.com - Kelowna. Right Now!

UBC Okanagan celebrated Remembrance Day Friday

By Kathy Michaels

Remembrance Day came early to UBC Okanagan, as veterans, students and faculty gathered Friday morning to pay homage to Canadian Armed Forces, past and present.

The event which spanned the better part of an hour allowed those in attendance the time to discuss what soldiers’ sacrifices meant to them, and how they keep the tradition of Remembrance Day alive.

Among the speakers was fourth year history student Ashley Williams who pointed out that the day is not only a chance to honour those who fought to keep this country free for future generations, but also an opportunity to celebrate something uniquely Canadian in a world where our identity is blurred.

Williams talked about how Canadian children are taught to respect and honour the past, and how all these years later the poppy that is pinned to lapels is a great unifier and reminder of what Canadians can do and have done.

Pointing to the 1917 battle of Vimy Ridge, she said this country’s  “brave soldiers fought for our lives and our rights,” when they came together as a people for the first time.

“I have a voice, and I am able to stand before you and be heard clearly because of their sacrifice.”

John Marchand, a Vernon veteran who served from 1942 to 1945, said  these kinds of services, where young and old alike take the time to pay homage to the sacrifices made, that make him realize  the efforts he made as  a young man weren’t for naught.

“It feels good to see these young people here,” he said. “Sometimes you get the impression things are forgotten after 60 years, but you realize people do think people made a difference.”

UBC Okanagan faculty Kathy Rush pointed out in her opening remarks that Remembrance Day isn’t the only time that the efforts previous generations put forth should be acknowledged.

The peace Canadians have come to take for granted, “is only a dream” to citizens of many other countries across the world.

While the university held their Remembrance Days early, there are numerous events being held across the Central Okanagan Wednesday. To find out which is closest to you, read below:

West Kelowna

• Cenotaph outside the Westbank Lions Community Hall, 2466 Main Street. Organized by the Royal Canadian Legion, Westbank Branch No. 28. Please arrive by 10:40 am as a parade involving participating organizations and the Colour Party precede the 11:00 am ceremony. Following the ceremony, lunch will be served in the Westbank Lions Community Hall while a lunch for children will be served in nearby St. George’s Anglican Church.

Kelowna

• City Park Cenotaph organized by the Royal Canadian Legion, Kelowna Branch No. 26. At approximately 10:25 am a parade of participating organizations and the Colour Party will march from Kerry Park (Mill Street) along Abbott Street to the Cenotaph in City Park for the ceremony. Following the ceremony, participating youth groups are invited to the Legion Branch, 1380 Bertram Street for lunch. A period of social remembrance will be held in the Parkinson Recreation Centre, 1800 Parkinson Way from 12:30 pm to 3:30 p.m.

Rutland

• Lions Park Cenotaph. Organized by the Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans Unit 376. The 11 a.m. ceremony at the newly renovated cenotaph in Lions Park will be preceded by a parade starting at 10:30 am from the Unit clubhouse parking lot at 270 Dougall Road North to Gray Road and into the park. Following the ceremony and parade dismissal, an Open House reception will be held at the Unit clubhouse, 270 Dougall Road North.

Lake Country

• George Elliot Secondary School, 10241 Bottom Wood Lake Road. Organized by the Royal Canadian Legion, Oyama Branch No. 18. Please be seated inside George Elliot Secondary School by 10:30 am. Following the ceremony a Public Open House will be held at the Legion Branch, 15712 Oyama Road.

Peachland

• Peachland Community Centre, 4450 6th Street. Organized by the Royal Canadian Legion, Peachland Branch No. 69. Fall in at 10:20 am at the Peachland Community Centre. Following the ceremony, adults are welcome at the Peachland Legion on 2nd Street, while refreshments will be served for all children and their parents at the Peachland Community Centre.

Tags: remebrance day

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 8th, 2009 at 6:00 am and is filed under News, UBC Okanagan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.