Remembrance Day
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
About This Holiday
A day to honor the sacrifice of Canadian Armed Forces members who died in service.
History
Remembrance Day commemorates the armistice that ended World War I on November 11, 1918, at 11 a.m. Originally called 'Armistice Day,' it was renamed 'Remembrance Day' after World War II. The day honors all Canadians who have died in military service, from World War I to current peacekeeping missions. The poppy flower has been the symbol of remembrance since 1921.
Traditions
Ceremonies are held at cenotaphs and war memorials across Canada, with the national ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa. At 11 a.m., a two-minute silence is observed. Canadians wear red poppies in the weeks leading up to Remembrance Day. Veterans attend ceremonies, and wreaths are laid. The poem 'In Flanders Fields' by John McCrae is often recited.
Fun Facts
- ✨The poppy became a symbol of remembrance after John McCrae's 1915 poem 'In Flanders Fields'
- ✨The Royal Canadian Legion distributes about 18 million poppies annually
- ✨The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial was dedicated in 2000
- ✨Remembrance Day is a statutory holiday in all provinces except Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Manitoba