Holiday: Remembrance Day at Fort York

Remembrance Day ceremonies were held at Strachan Avenue Military Cemetery next to Fort York in Toronto, Ontario on 11-November-2009

TORONTO, ONTARIO - There is no shortage of Remembrance Day ceremonies in Toronto. As CBC radio put it this morning, "there are even ceremonies at the CN Tower and the zoo." I decided this year that I didn't want to listen to politicians, so immersing myself in the oldest history of Toronto seemed the right way to spend the late morning, at Fort York. What better place than the site of a battle (in 1813, with the Americans) could there be to honor veterans?


Soldiers in World War I costumes entered the Remembrance Day ceremony at Strachan Avenue Military Cemetery in Toronto, Ontario on 11-November-2009

The Fort York Remembrance Service actually took place at Strachan Avenue Military Cemetery, active from 1863 to 1911, a location I hadn't even known to exist in the corner southeast of Strachan Avenue and the Canadian National tracks. It turned out to be a very nice setting for a very traditional Remembrance Day service.


The Reverend Dr. John D. Hartley led the Remembrance Day ceremony at Strachan Avenue Military Cemetery in Toronto, Ontario on 11-November-2009

The elements of the ceremony were quite simple and classic. Fort York head Richard Haynes and the Reverend Dr. John D. Hartley traded off in a brief historical perspective, the singing of the national anthem, the Lord's Prayer, a reading of "In Flanders Fields," two minutes of silence, singing of "God Save the Queen," and a recessional. Considering the increasing diversity of the armed forces, I have to wonder how much longer the Lord's Prayer will be featured so prominently in these ceremonies.


The Colour Guard exited the Strachan Avenue Military Cemetery during the recessional from Remembrance Day ceremonies on 11-November-2009

The only problem with such a basic ceremony is that I left after a half-hour feeling like I hadn't done enough to commemorate veterans--but it's not like listening to politicians speaking would have helped that any. I just wore my poppy for the rest of the day.

More photos from the Remembrance Day ceremony will be featured on a future update to my photo site