Residents invited to honour service and sacrifice through Remembrance Day and Indigenous Veterans Day events

The City of Kingston is inviting residents to come together in recognition and reflection through City and community-led events and commemorations marking Remembrance Day on Nov. 11.

Civic Service of Remembrance 

The bilingual Civic Service of Remembrance is on Wednesday, Nov. 11 starting approximately at 10:45 a.m. at the Cross of Sacrifice Cenotaph in Macdonald Park (located near Murney Tower, on King St. at the foot of George St.).  

We recommend spectators be in place by 10:40 a.m. to see the parade march on ahead of the service. Please note that during the ceremony at 11 a.m. and 11:02 a.m. a blank canon blast will take place to mark both the eleventh hour and the conclusion of the two minutes of silence.  

 For your convenience:   

• An ASL Interpreter will be present during the civic ceremony and there will be seating for veterans and people with disabilities.   
• If you are unable to attend, please note that the ceremony will also be filmed by YourTV from Cogeco and they will broadcast the event on channels 13 (standard definition) and 700 (HD) as well as channel 100 in HD on Epico at 2 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. later that evening.   

Starting at 9:15 a.m., wreaths will be laid ahead of the ceremony by community groups, and followed by veteran and military groups at 10:15 a.m.  

Please note the following road closures for the Civic Service of Remembrance:   

• King St. from Lower University Ave. to Barrie St. from 8:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. 
• Ceremony: King St. from Barrie St. to West St. from 10:20 a.m. to 12 p.m.  
• Barrie St. from King St. to Stuart St. from 10:20 a.m. to 12 p.m. 
• Bagot St. from West St. to Barrie St. from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.   

Illumination of City Hall  

City Hall will be illuminated red and white to commemorate the armistice agreement that ended the First World War on November 11, 1918, at 11 a.m.—on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

Indigenous Veterans Day: Sunday, Nov. 8 

The City recognizes the contributions of all who have served, including Indigenous veterans whose service has not always received the recognition it deserves. Commemorating Indigenous Veterans Day is an opportunity to honour their bravery, resilience and ongoing legacy. Flags in Confederation Park will be flown at half-mast, from sunrise to sunset, to commemorate Indigenous Veterans Day. 

To mark Indigenous Veterans Day, the Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest is hosting an event at the Royal Canadian Legion on Montreal St. 

Honouring Indigenous Veterans Day with a Traditional Meal 

Date: Sunday, Nov. 8 

Time: 3- 5 p.m.  

Location: Royal Canadian Legion Branch 560 (743 Montreal St.)  

To register, contact the Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest at Yessi@KNCLN.ca. 

Other community events taking place across Kingston 

The City, in consultation with the Civic Ceremony Military Organizing Committee, has compiled a list of additional events and services organized and/or hosted by external organizations and may be subject to change. To include a Remembrance Day or Indigenous Veterans Day ceremony (open to the public) in future City communications, please email SpecialEvents@CityofKingston.ca  

Sunday, Nov. 8 

• Remembrance Day Services – 1 p.m. at Glenhaven Memorial Gardens Cemetery (2563 Perth Rd.)
• Remembrance Day Services – 2 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cemetery (718 Division St.) 

Wednesday, Nov. 11 

• Canadian Joint Response Headquarters Ceremony – 10:30 a.m. at Barriefield Rock Garden Park Cenotaph (239 James St.)
• Royal Canadian Horse Artillery Ceremony – 10:45 a.m. at City Park (79 Barrie St.)
• Royal Canadian Legion Branch 560 Ceremony & Lunch – 1 p.m. at Legion 560 (734 Montreal St.)
• Royal Canadian Legion Branch 631 Ceremony – 11 a.m. at Legion 631 (4034 Bath Rd.)

Other ways to remember and honour Remembrance Day   

• Observe two minutes of silence at 11 a.m.  
• Visit the National Memorial to the Fallen, located in Macdonald Park and dedicated to the 120,000 Canadian service personnel who died in Canada’s wars and conflicts
• Visit the Veterans Commemorative Crosswalks, which is being refreshed before Nov. 11, at Lower Union Street and Ontario Street
• Purchase a wreath or poppy from the Royal Canadian Legion. To order a wreath, please call  613-544-5522.