Dignitaries, politicians and especially active military personnel and veterans gathered at the foot of the Cross of Sacrifice in downtown Quebec City to commemorate Remembrance Day and the soldiers who died in battle.
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This year marked the 80th anniversary of the Sicily landings and Operation Husky, the opening of a second front in Europe at the end of World War II.
It was also an opportunity to highlight the work of the Canadian Armed Forces in the context of current conflicts, particularly in Ukraine and the Middle East.
DIDIER DEBUS SCISSORS/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
“The images that reach us from Israel and Palestine hurt us,” Quebec MP and Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, representing the Canadian government, said at the ceremony. “It’s very close and even here in Quebec we feel the pain that people feel when they see what’s happening elsewhere.”
Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos during the Remembrance Day commemoration in Quebec. DIDIER DEBUS SCISSORS/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
On the Quebec government side, it was the Minister responsible for the Capitale-Nationale, Jonatan Julien, who carried a wreath of flowers at the foot of the memorial monument.
Minister Jonatan Julien was accompanied by Minister Éric Caire to lay a wreath in memory of the soldiers who died in battle. DIDIER DEBUS SCISSORS/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
The Mother of the Silver Cross, representing all mothers and wives of soldiers killed in battle, was Louisette Tremblay. Her husband, Gabriel Raymond, fought during Canadian Forces operations in Korea and Cyprus.
“It’s important to take time together to remember everyone who came before us,” said 5th Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group commander Col. Cédric Aspirault. “Every day people continue this peacekeeping work.”
Colonel Cédric Aspirault is in charge of the ceremony in the upper town of Quebec. DIDIER DEBUS SCISSORS/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
He adds that educational work is still necessary among younger people, for whom the concept of armed conflict is somewhat more abstract.
As part of the commemoration, the soldiers marched through downtown Quebec under the gaze of curious onlookers. DIDIER DEBUS SCISSORS/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
At 11 a.m. two minutes of silence were observed, before which the trumpet bell rang under the flags at half-mast.
Ceremonies in Lévis, Montreal and Ottawa
Another commemoration in the region took place this time in Lévis at the Parc de la Paix.
A Remembrance Day commemoration was organized at the Parc de la Paix in Lévis. René Leclerc / QMI agency
In addition to military personnel and veterans, dignitaries present at the occasion included Mayor Gilles Lehouillier and Education Minister Bernard Drainville.
Quebec Education Minister Bernard Drainville laid a floral wreath at the Parc de la Paix. René Leclerc / QMI agency
Meanwhile, in Ottawa, other dignitaries including Justin Trudeau and Governor General Mary Simon laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
For their part, Quebec Prime Minister François Legault and Indigenous Affairs Minister Ian Lafrenière were in downtown Montreal.