Veterans Week and Remembrance Day 2023
At Sunnybrook, as the home to Canada's largest Veterans Centre, it is important that we ensure our Veterans know they have not been forgotten, and that their sacrifices for Canada will always be remembered.
During Veterans Week, and every week, we hope you will find an opportunity to reflect, remember and honour the sacrifices of our Veterans. We thank them for their dedication and service to Canada.
Lest we forget.
Sunnybrook Service of Remembrance 2023
The 2023 Sunnybrook Service of Remembrance will begin on Saturday, November 11 at 10:30 a.m. A livestream of the service will be available on Sunnybrook's YouTube channel and select television stations.
The Last Salute
Celebrating Canada’s eldest Veterans, The Last Salute, created by photographer, Yuri Dojc, and journalist, Alannah Campbell, is a photo exhibit that features stunning black-and-white portraits and audio from 40 of the Sunnybrook's Centenarian Veterans. All the Veterans who sat for their portraits are 100 or older and 28 shared personal memories of their war years and lessons learned.
QR codes are beside many of the portraits in the exhibit, allowing visitors to look at Dojc’s evocative images, and hear the Veterans tell their stories from so long ago.
This fall, The Last Salute book was launched, allowing for the stories of these Veterans to be shared beyond the Sunnybrook community. Copies of The Last Salute are now available for purchase with all proceeds dedicated to the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre.
Sunnybrook Veterans Portrait Series
View this year's portrait series of Sunnybrook Veterans by photographer Kevin Van Paassen.
Wednesday, Nov. 8 – Indigenous Veterans Day
We honour the contributions of Indigenous Veterans to Canada’s military. Throughout Canadian history, Indigenous Veterans have served valiantly, spanning from the First and Second World Wars to the Korean War, and most recently, their service extended to Afghanistan. Over this period, numerous First Nations, Inuit, and Métis individuals enlisted, totaling hundreds of thousands. Upon their return, Indigenous Veterans encountered obstacles not shared by other Veterans and unfortunately, systemic barriers still persist for Indigenous members within the military.
Friday, Nov. 10 – Operation Raise a Flag
Flags will be planted around the Bayview campus for Remembrance Day as a symbol of honour and appreciation. The campaign this year will also incorporate artwork designed by an Indigenous artist, to be planted alongside the Canadian flag; a symbol honouring the sacrifices and contributions made by First Nations, Inuit and Métis Veterans in service to Canada.
Visit raiseaflag.ca to learn more »
Saturday, Nov. 11 – Remembrance Day
Our Veterans will be honoured with the sound of pipers and drums throughout the day, amongst other private moments of ceremony and thanks.
Sunnybrook’s 2023 Service of Remembrance
Sunnybrook is the largest Veterans’ care facility in Canada, which opened in 1948. We are honoured to care for Canada's Veterans; the courageous men and women who served our country in the name of peace and freedom. This year, one of our Veteran centenarians will be reading “In Flanders Field” in our Remembrance Day service.
10:30 to 11 a.m.
Sunnybrook's Service of Remembrance will be available to view on Sunnybrook's YouTube channel
11 a.m. Moment of Silence
We encourage everyone to observe a moment of silence at 11 a.m. on November 11, wherever you are.
11:15 to 11:25 a.m. Fly-pasts
Fly-pasts are planned by the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association in various directions over the Veterans Centre with the hopes that everyone will catch a glimpse. Weather permitting.
Sunnybrook's Service of Remembrance will also air on the following local Rogers television stations across Ontario on November 11
Our sincere thanks to Rogers Communications and OMNI Television for their support at a time of need. They were there for us, they helped us to connect our Veterans, families and community so that all may be able to participate in this special service at the same time on November 11.
| Barrie: 08:30:00 a.m. | Orangeville: 12:30:00 p.m. | St. Thomas: 12:00:00 p.m. |
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Guelph: 06:30:00 p.m.
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Orangeville: 05:30:00 p.m. | Tillsonburg: 12:00:00 p.m. |
| Keswick: 12:30:00 p.m. | Orangeville: 11:30:00 p.m. | Tillsonburg: 07:30:00 p.m. |
| Keswick: 05:30:00 p.m. | Durham Region: 07:00:00 p.m. | North Durham Kawartha: 12:30:00 p.m. |
| Keswick: 09:00:00 p.m. | Durham Region:10:00:00 p.m. | North Durham Kawartha: 07:00:00 p.m. |
| Kincardine: 11:30:00 a.m. | Ottawa - English:10:00:00 a.m. | Waterloo Region: 06:30:00 p.m. |
| London: 02:30:00 p.m. | Ottawa - English: 08:30:00 p.m. | Woodstock: 12:30:00 p.m. |
| London: 07:30:00 p.m. | Owen Sound: 09:30:00 p.m. | Woodstock: 03:30:00 p.m. |
Messages of support
A message from Jack Armstrong, Toronto Raptors broadcaster
Follow Sunnybrook on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn for more stories and photos throughout Veterans Week.
