On November 11, all across the country poppies are donned, brass instruments are dusted off and parade colours are worn with pride.
We pay homage to the lives and deeds of those who served, out of a respect we have for their courage.
To do otherwise would be un-Canadian.
According to the website timeanddate.com, the federal government recognizes Remembrance Day in the Holidays Act, instituted in 1985, as a national holiday, but not all provinces treat it as one that is both paid and statutory.
While six provinces count Remembrance Day among the country’s statutory holidays, currently four - Ontario, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Manitoba, do not.
Citing fears of non-attendance at veteran-led celebrations before the cenotaphs should legislation like Dan Harris’ private members bill (C-597) from 2014, or Lisa MacLeod’s War Dead Act of 2010, come into effect, the sad reality is that it is political bureaucracy that killed both of those bills before they could pass through parliament and into mandatory practice.
The concern is that the general public would observe Remembrance Day in much the same manner as they do Thanksgiving, whereas the focus now is on ceremony and paying respect, it would instead become more about sleep, recreation or something else other than what was originally intended.
A genuine concern, granted, but one based on a generalization that all people react similar.
In provinces like Nova Scotia where businesses have been informed of legislation changes to reflect the day being recognized as a national holiday, attendance at the various memorials has increased, in spite of the fact that it is not a mandatory, statutory one.
The point though, is to never forget the sacrifices made.
Whether we get paid for the time off or not, the day is not supposed to be about the cabbage.
However, here at the Leader, we feel that having Remembrance Day regarded alongside Christmas, New Years, and even Labour Day as a statutory holiday, like we do in Alberta, is not a bad thing.
It is the right thing to do, and the rest of the country needs to get on board because our veterans died to protect an idea.
They did their duty so that future generations would be free to become the people they are, to chase whichever dream they wanted.
At a minimum, a minute of silence on Nov. 11 should be observed, and poppies ought to be worn by everyone, young or old, thereby at least showing a visual solidarity to an ideal that has been held in importance in our country since the inaugural ceremonies in 1919.
After all, a memorial day observance that is celebrated the world over, at the exact time and date no matter the country, is obviously important to us and it should be statutory.
