Remembrance Day – also known as Poppy Day, Armistice Day or Veterans Day – commemorates the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and of civilians in times of war, specifically since the First World War. More than 1,500,000 Canadians have served our country in the Canadian military, and more than 100,000 have died. They gave their lives and their futures so that we may live in peace.

All Canadians have made and continue to make significant contributions and sacrifices in times of war:

• As of January 2014, the percentage of women in the Canadian Armed Forces, Regular Force and Primary Reserve combined was at 14.8 per cent, with more than 9,400 women in the Regular Force and more than 4,800 women in the Primary Reserve.

• Approximately 600 Chinese Canadian soldiers fought for Canada during the Second World War. The Chinese-Canadian contribution to Canada’s war effort was a major factor to the Chinese Canadian population attaining the right to vote in 1947.

• Aboriginal peoples have been fighting for Canada on the front line of every major war, going as far back as 1812. More than 4,000 Aboriginal people in Canada left their homes and their families to fight in the First World War.

• Black Canadians fought for their right to volunteer their services to the Canadian War effort. On July 5, 1916 the No.2 Construction Battalion headquartered in Pictou, Nova Scotia, was established consisting of 1049 Black men of all ranks. Black women formed the ‘Black Cross Nurses’ organization, an organization modeled on the Red Cross, to aid wounded soldiers. 

• Sikhs have played a major role in the Canadian war effort. One example of an exemplary soldier was Private Buckam Singh. Singh enrolled in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1915. He was awarded a victory medal for his significant contribution to the Canadian military

Lest We Forget...