More than three hours before the veterans line up for the official Remembrance Day parade, cadets from the Richmond Army Cadet Corps will stand-a-post with a sunrise vigil at the cenotaph at city hall.
At 7 a.m. the cadets will “guard” the memorial on No. 3 Road and Granville Avenue to kick off the Nov. 11 events to mark those who have fallen in conflict all over the world.
Around 10:20 a.m., the official parade will start in the parkade at city hall and will include members of the Royal Canadian Legion, Canadian Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans Association, Richmond’s permanent Canadian Forces Unit 39 Service Battalion and members of local public safety agencies and cadet organizations.
The parade will march around the perimeter of city hall, with official ceremonies at the cenotaph set to begin at 10:40 a.m.
There will be two minutes of silence at 11 a.m., followed by a wreath-laying.
Due to the space constraints at the cenotaph, the full Remembrance Day service will be streamed online. To access the live webcast, click on the Remembrance Day information in the news highlights section on the home page of Richmond.ca.
The ceremonies will also be simulcast into city hall council chambers, where everyone is welcome inside. First seating preference will be given to those who may not be able to stand outside for the duration of the service.
On Remembrance Day, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., some streets will be closed for the parade and ceremony:
Granville Avenue will be closed in both directions from Minoru Boulevard to Buswell Street; No. 3 Road will be closed in both directions from Park Road to Bennett Road.
n Where to go after the ceremony?
There are several places to enjoy some refreshments post-ceremony across Richmond.
At city hall itself, where Richmond’s official Remembrance Day ceremony will take place, there will be a reception for the sixth year running, where local companies pitch in to put on a light spread for the veterans, their families and all who attend the ceremony at the cenotaph.
This year, according to reception organizer Judith Hutson, the contributors are: Diplomat Bakery; Steveston Bakery; Broadmoor Bakery; Belle’s Bake Shop and The Butler Did It Catering Co.
“As usual, they are going to be donating large numbers of delicious sweet treats,” said Hutson in an email.
“(This is) most impressive, especially given that these are small local businesses. And they all do it because they understand how important Remembrance Day is.”
The City of Richmond will be providing the coffee, tea and hot chocolate and guests will be serenaded by the Richmond Youth Honour Choir.
The Friends of the Richmond Archives will also have yet another interesting display with a Remembrance Day theme.
“We will have about 20 volunteers who support this event and many of them have been with me since the beginning, including my dad,” added Hutson.
“I could not put on this event without them! Everyone loves being a part of our Remembrance Day reception. …the City of Richmond continues to be a key partner.”
n After being closed for eight months, the Royal Canadian Legion 291 on Bridgeport Road is re-opening on Remembrance Day with a free lunch for those participating in the official parade.
According to Scott Stewart, chair of the legion’s management committee, the lunch is being laid on by the branch’s Ladies Auxiliary from around noon on Friday.
“We’re expecting quite a few people to drop by, given that we’ve been closed for so long,” said Stewart.
“The key to of all this, though, is to remember, and that’s the most important thing.”
Stewart said the branch at 11131 Bridgeport Road, near Shell Road, has been closed since March due to “administrative difficulties” so its business could be “straightened out.”
n The Army, Navy & Airforce Veterans Unit 284 at 11900 No. 1 Road in Steveston, will be open Remembrance Day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. for members and their guests.
n The Sherman Armoury on the DND Lands, on No. 4 Road and Alderbridge Way, is opening its doors to the public from 12:30 p.m., with finger food and $4 beers at the bar.
