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Remembrance Day celebrations looked different this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)
Remembrance Day

‘We will remember them’: Prince Albert pauses to pay tribute

Nov 11, 2020 | 12:42 PM

On any other year, thousands of people would gather on Remembrance Day at the Prince Albert Armoury to pay their respects, but due to COVID-19 that just wasn’t possible this year.

Instead, a small service was held at the cenotaph outside Court of Queen’s Bench. The event was not publicized to help control, for social distancing purposes, the size of the crowd attending. Grant Ursaki with the Prince Albert Legion was among those in attendance. He fought back tears as he thought about his friends in the service who have passed..

“It’s not easy so it’s very important to me and to the people who have showed up that we do something,” he said.

Ursaki, who was in the air force for 40 years, called Wednesday’s event unique, explaining he’s never seen a situation where a mass gathering could not be held. ANAVETS Unit 222 President Val Zwack was not deterred by the smaller crowd.

“I don’t really think that the crowd makes or breaks it. I just think that everyone needs to take the time to honour and reflect,” she said.

Sgt.-at-Arms Gary Renaud shared that sentiment.

“We’ve got to respect the people that fought for our freedom,” he said. “We should all appreciate the freedom that was hard won.”

(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)
(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)
(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)
(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Emergency services pay respect

In addition to the service held at the cenotaph, members of the Prince Albert Police Service and the Prince Albert Fire Dept. also held private services..

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell