Ukraine war looms large as Canadians mark Remembrance Day
The war in Ukraine loomed large Friday as Canadians, most wearing poppies but few with masks, gathered at cenotaphs and monuments to remember and pay their respects to those who fought and died in service of the country.
This year’s Remembrance Day ceremonies saw a return to normal after two years of pandemic-related restrictions forced scaled-down commemorations, with large crowds and veterans returning alongside the traditional drums, pipes and cannons.
Even as Canadians were asked to remember the sacrifices of past generations, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine underscored fears and uncertainty about a new era of war and conflict — and the need to stand for unity and peace.
In a prayer at the national ceremony in Ottawa, held amid unseasonably warm temperatures, military chaplain navy Capt. Bonita Mason noted the war in Ukraine before calling on Canadians to set aside their divisions.