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Send us your thoughts, comments and ideas about Remembrance Day in Canada. What should and should't be done on this day? How best to pay respect to current and past members of the armed forces?

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Comments 21 - 30 about Remembrance Day
Posted by Chris:

It is not a statutory holiday in Manitoba. Retail/Restaurant businesses can open but non-retail have to close. Any business that closes does not have to pay employees for the missed day of work. It should be treated like any other holiday.

Posted by pegger:

Where I live it is a statutory holiday and we make sure to take all of our children with us to attend a ceremony every year. We try to go to a different one every year, if we don't teach our children about the cost of war how much more likely do you think they'll be to encourage/support future wars without taking a lot of time for sober thought beforehand.

Posted by Sylvia:

Of course Remembrance Day should be a National holiday. I always thought it was until today. I am shocked to find out it is not. Our country of Canada lost so many men and women in the First and Second World Wars. Why isn’t this country not standing all together at the same time to recognize this fact? The men and women of Canada stood together to go and fight these wars for our freedom so why is this country not unified to stand together behind them in remembering them as a whole nation?

Posted by Uncle Lyle:

"From a random dad" don't ask your 8 yr old daughter what she'd learn if sat at home. Ask yourself what you should be teaching her with your time. The fact that she wouldn't learn anything from her dad says more about you than her.

Posted by margaret m egan:

In England, many years ago: on Remembrance Day there would be those minutes of silence and at 11 am on Nov. 11th it was customary to stop what you were doing....even driving!.....to have thoughts of veterans and our own war time experiences. Bus drivers would get out of their cabs and stand my their bus at that time. Those few minutes were so much more meaningful than having a whole day off....and a lot of people wondering why! It only takes those few moments to be meaningful.

Posted by Paul Jan Gagalka:

We as Nation fought in WWI and WWII and volunteers in Vietnam make it mandatory to pay respect to fallen one and to have Living Veterans to respect!

Posted by Rick:

Remembrance Day is the tradition started to remember and honour soldiers killed in the Great War. But only to remember and honour the 5.7 million French, Russian, and British soldiers killed; not the 4 million German, Austrian and Hungarian soldiers killed; and not the 8.9 million civilians killed by the soldiers. So over 100 years later we wear a piece of gaudy, non-recyclable, non-biodegradable plastic manufactured in the tens of millions by a single private contractor to celebrate the shining example of massive failure of civilization and diplomacy that was the escalation of a conflict started when a Serbian extremist assassinated an Austro-Hungarian in 1914. I say no, it should NOT be a holiday. It should be abolished. Continuing to glorify war only fans the flames of the xenophobia that's at the heart of our society's ongoing conflicts and needless violence.

Posted by Cid:

Absolutely it should be. It’s much more important than the queen birthday or Boxing Day. Those veterans deserve to be honoured better than they are Cid

Posted by Bernard:

Remembrance Day should be a national holiday. Some believe Family Day is more important. But if it was not for the ones who gave their lives for the freedom we have today maybe our way of living would be much different. There should be a time of respect and reflection of what our ancestors gave for us to live our lives as we do today.

Posted by MICHELLE :

I think kids should be in school having their ceremonies etc. and adults who have jobs should be excused from work from 10:30 til noon, so they can attend their community ceremony

Posted by Dawn Burns:

As a person who lost family members in both wars and have family members in the Canadian Armed Forces I believe that by making November 11 a national holiday we are showing the world that not only are Canadians proud to serve their country. but they are proud of those who have given their lives in the service of this country! They deserve more than 2 minutes of silence and flags at half mast. I personally think that our whole country should stand together from sea to sea let us try to remember what our National Anthem means and abide by it!

Posted by Sylvia Rushmere:

November 11th should be a statutory holiday across Canada. Why is it a Federal holiday only for the Federal employees and not all provinces? Freedom is not free; our soldiers died for our freedom. God Bless Them! Schools should teach more regarding the Wars that our soldiers fought.

Posted by Alice E Marshall:

Remembrance Day should not be a legal holiday. The veterans did not want it to be one because everyone would just see it as a paid day off. I managed a motel for 20 years and one group of veterans came every year for a week and it was imporant to them that children learn about the war and the sacrifices the veterans made for our country. If it was just a paid day off soon no parades or gatherings or poppies would be held on November 11th

Posted by Christopher Lung:

Remembrance Day should be a statutory holiday to remember what the fallen soldiers have done for our country. Thanks to the fallen soldiers, we still have the freedom that we have today.

Posted by Toby Burden:

I am very disappointed this is still being debated.

Posted by Kim:

Remembrance Day should be Stat holiday. We should be honoring the fallen and those who survive. Without those Men and Women Soldier we would not have our freedom in this Country. My grandfather is one of the Solider am so honor knowing he fought for our Country. will always be grateful for him and all the Soldiers out there today. God Bless

Posted by R.W. Roberts:

Out of protocol, has your group even bothered to ask the opinion of the oldest Veterans organization in North America? We, The Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans in Canada formed pre 1840 would appreciate being included in your survey. As noted, you only asked the Royal Canadian Legion who are quite a bit junior in age, their opinion. We as well, are a national Veterans organization with our Dominion Office located in Ottawa. Greatly appreciate being included in any future comments regarding Veterans issues or affairs. Thanking you, in anticipation of your attention herein SHOULDER TO SHOULDER

Posted by Deb Stroh:

Absolutely Rememberance Day should be a stat holiday . My father and many more vets have fought for our country . Family and friends of the vets that are no longer with us should be able to recognize them without be penalised at work .

Posted by Parveen:

Rememberance day should be the stat holiday in Ontario. My father fought in the 2nd world war. Parveen

Posted by Jason Pennings:

Making Remembance Day a statutory holiday is a Canadian right. Our soldiers fought hard in WW1 and WW2 and many others we should remember them and the ones serving still. Schools and businesses should be closed on that day so we can remember oir fallen soldiers

Posted by Diane Davies:

It is time to come to the future, which we would not have if it were not for our Veteran's. Government, do something right for a change. Make Remembrance Day a Stat Holiday all throughout Canada. Hopefully people will attend memorials for those that died for us, and those that don't, there is nothing can be done about that.

Posted by Dean:

According to the Canadian Holidays Act Remembrance Day is a legal holiday throughout Canada. Provincial legislation should not be allowed to change this. See below. Remembrance Day 3 November 11, being the day in the year 1918 on which the Great War was triumphantly concluded by an armistice, is a legal holiday and shall be kept and observed as such throughout Canada under the name of “Remembrance Day”. R.S., 1985, c. H-5, s. 32018, c. 3, s. 1

Posted by Mark, Canadian Armed Forces 1973-2016:

"On remembrance day members of the armed forces (soldiers, sailors and airmen) are commemorated." No. This is a common misconception, and even Veterans' Affairs gets it wrong. Remembrance Day is to commemorate our War Dead. I do not support any attempt to turn this into just another day off, which is what it would become.

Posted by weezie:

Rememberance day should be right across the board. B.C. & governament get it off. My father fought in the 2nd world war.

Posted by Alex:

I agree with Douglas, it is up to the parents to take their kids to a ceremony or a cenotaph to teach them what the day means. If they are concerned that hat their kids will sit and watch tv and not do anything to remember then maybe they should take the initiative and get off their butts and and teach them!! It should be a Statutory holiday across the country!!

Posted by John Giardino:

I believe we should ALWAYS be able to attend Remembrance Day ceremonies on the actual "Day of Remembrance" rather than using Vacation time or unpaid time off to participate.Our fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers have served and in some cases lost their lives to keep us safe and free and we MUST show respect for that.

Posted by Penny MacDonald:

I am surprised that all our provinces don’t honour Remembrance Day as a statutory day. The school s, communities, parents,,, everyone has lots of opportunity to teach and get our youth involved in the remembrance and honour of our veterans. Lest we forget

Posted by Luisa:

I read some comments and must say that I think that it can be a nationwide day hollyday preceded by intensive discussions and work with all the students just on the days before in order to make them aware about why this Day is so important to be remembered and celebrated. It probably will help a lot to have a more aware population, especially young generations, about the dangers that a country can face on this era of social mídia . It will help to get them better informed and able to see critically the information that they access in order to minimize risks of future wars and wrong leaderships.

Posted by Douglas:

Yes Remembrance Day should be a holiday. I have a lot of family members that served and some never came back so not taking a day to remember those who sacrificed their lives for what we have today is not right. People say kids would stay at home and play games and watch movies well parents take your kids out to a ceremony or visit a cenotaph and educate your children on the importance of Remembrance Day. As Canadians we should make Remembrance Day a holiday sacrificing one day for those who sacrificed their lives for what we have today. Lest we forget

Posted by Sarah :

It should be a statutory holiday, we only have this nation because our people gave there lives for us. Never forgot!

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