Remembrance Day in Ottawa - November 11, 2012. What's open, what's closed, what's on.

The War Memorial. Photo by Allison Palubiski.
The War Memorial. Photo by Allison Palubiski.

On Remembrance Day, November 11, 2012, Canadians honour and remember our veterans, and all who served Canada during war, armed conflict and peace. In Ottawa, veterans will gather at the War Memorial on Elgin Street, for the annual Remembrance Day National Ceremony. Other parades and ceremonies around Ottawa are also listed on this page, along with what's open and closed.

Remembrance Day in the City of Ottawa

Most retail businesses are required to close until 12:30 p.m. on November 11th each year to honour Canadian Veterans and those currently serving in the military. For 24 hour businesses, they're required to close from 8:00am until 12:30pm. For more information, including businesses exempt from the by-law, click here...
Remembrance Day is not a statutory holiday in Ontario, but it is a federal holiday. Federal government offices and City Hall will be closed on Sunday, November 11 and and Monday, November 12. Schools remain open.
OC Transpo and STO will operate on a Sunday schedule on November 11 and a regular weekday schedule on Monday, November 12. War veterans who wear their medals or uniforms may ride OC Transpo, Para Transpo and Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) for free during National Veterans’ Week – November 5 to 11.
On November 11, buses will pull over to the side of the road (where it is safe to do so) to observe two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. The Last Post and Reveille will be played over the radios of OC Transpo buses.
Banks are closed on Monday, November 12.
Libraries will be closed on November 11 but open on November 12.
City recreation centres and pools will be open on November 11 and 12 with regular schedules. There are some exceptions, check with your facility.
Most national museums are open... Free admission at the Canadian War Museum and the Museum of Civilization. There's also a special exhibit at the Currency Museum.
The War Museum will be live streaming an image of Memorial Hall, showing sunlight through the single window that illuminate the headstone of Canada’s Unknown Soldier. It's an event that happens yearly on Remembrace Day. More info...
The flags at all City of Ottawa will be lowered to half-mast from sunrise to sunset to honour the memory of all Canadians who have served their country in time of war.
More City of Ottawa schedule changes...

The Ceremony

Each year Ottawa hosts the National Ceremony of Remembrance at the National War Memorial at the corner of Elgin and Wellington.
The ceremony marks the anniversary of the end of the First World War, at 11:00am on November 11th, 1918.
Prior to the ceremony, a parade of pipers and war veterans march from Cartier Square Drill Hall towards the War Memorial. (The pipe band leaves Cartier Square Drill Hall, marching via Laurier Avenue to Metcalfe & Queen. They're joined by veterans at this location, and then continue marching down Queen Street towards the War Memorial.)
The ceremony begins at 10:55am at the National War Memorial.
Wreaths are laid by dignitaries (usually including the Governor General and Prime Minister), along with veterans, and representatives of Canada's armed forces.
The ceremony is broadcast live on major tv networks in Canada. You can also watch a live webcast at CBCNews.ca
More info, including a full program, is available here from The Royal Canadian Legion...

Other parades and ceremonies in Ottawa in 2012

(Source: City of Ottawa)

Bells Corners – 10:45 a.m. to noon, Royal Canadian Legion (Bells Corners Branch 593), Centrepointe Drive between Constellation Drive and Chrysalis Way, and to the ceremonial site.
Eastview/Vanier – 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., Royal Canadian Legion (Eastview Branch 462), north on Cyr Avenue between the Royal Canadian Legion (294 Cyr Avenue) and Montreal Road, east on Montreal Road between Cyr Avenue and Hannah Street, and north on Hannah Street between Montreal Road and Marier Avenue, and to the Vanier Cenotaph for the ceremonial service.
Kanata – 10:30 a.m. to noon, Royal Canadian Legion (Kanata Branch 638), east on The Parkway between Earl of March High School (4 Parkway) and Teron Road, south on Teron Road between The Parkway and Colchester Square, Colchester Square, and to the Kanata Cenotaph for the ceremonial service.
Manotick/South Carleton – 10:30 a.m. to noon, Royal Canadian Legion (South Carleton Branch 314), east on Beaverwood Road from the Royal Canadian Legion to Manotick Main Street, north on Manotick Main Street from Beaverwood Road to Bridge Street, east on Bridge Street from Manotick Main Street to Dickinson Street, south on Dickinson Street from Bridge Street, and to the Manotick Cenotaph for the ceremonial service.
Metcalfe – 10:45 a.m. to noon, ceremonial service at the Metcalfe Cenotaph in front of Old City Hall.
National War Memorial – 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Royal Canadian Legion, Dominion Command.
Navan – 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., Colonial Road between Henn Drive and Delson Drive, and to the Navan Cenotaph for the ceremonial service.
Orléans – 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Royal Canadian Legion (Branch 632),Vimont Court and Taylor Creek Boulevard between Vimont Court and the Royal Canadian Legion at 800 Taylor Creek Boulevard, and to the Orleans Cenotaph for the ceremonial service.
Osgoode – 10:45 to noon, Royal Canadian Legion (Osgoode Branch 589), Victoria Street between Eighth Line Road and Louise Street, and to ceremonial service at Osgoode Cenotaph in front of Municipal Building.
Richmond – 10:45 a.m to 11:45 a.m., Royal Canadian Legion (Richmond Branch 625), Perth Street between the Richmond Shopping Plaza and the Richmond Memorial Park for the ceremonial service.
Stittsville – 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., Royal Canadian Legion (Stittsville and District Branch 618), north on Stittsville Main Street between the Royal Canadian Legion, (1480 Stittsville Main Street) and Warner-Colpitts Lane, and west on Warner-Colpitts Lane between Stittsville Main Street and the Stittsville Cenotaph for the ceremonial service.
Strathcona – 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Sunday, November 4, Royal Canadian Legion (Strathcona Branch 595), Main Street between Hazel Street and Beckwith Street (Beckwith Memorial Gate) for the ceremonial service.
West Carleton – 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, November 3, Royal Canadian Legion (West Carleton (Branch 616), Constance Bay Road between McConnell Lane and Allbirch Road, and Allbirch Road between Constance Bay Road, and to the Royal Canadian Legion for the ceremonial service.
Westboro – 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., Royal Canadian Legion (Westboro Branch 480), north on Winston Avenue between the Royal Canadian Legion and Madison Avenue, east on Madison Avenue between Winston Avenue and Churchill Avenue, south on Churchill Avenue between Madison Avenue and Richmond Road, and west on Richmond Road between Churchill Avenue and Broadview Avenue, and wreath laying and ceremonial service at the Westboro Cenotaph.

Veterans Week

The week leading up to Remembrance Day is recognized as "Veterans Week", with events and activities across Canada to honour our veterans. Organized by Veterans Affairs Canada.

At the Canadian War Museum

On Remembrance Day, at exactly 11 a.m., sunlight shines through a single window to frame the headstone of Canada’s Unknown Soldier. A limited number of free tickets will be available as of 9 a.m. at the Information Desk. No reservations permitted. This event will also be webcast on the Museum’s website and broadcast within the Museum. More info...

Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Campaign

The Poppy Campaign is conducted each year for about 2 weeks prior to November 11th in order to raise funds for needy Canadian veterans, ex-service members and their dependants, as well as Commonwealth veterans
Intention of the Poppy Campaign is to remind Canadians of the sacrifice of the 117,000 Canadians who died in the military, Merchant Navy and Ferry Command in two world wars, the Korean War and other theatres globally
Donations received are put into trust accounts and used to assist needy veterans, ex-service members, their families and former members of Commonwealth and allied military services
18 million poppies are distributed each year
Source / more info: Royal Canadian Legion

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