Lest we
forget.

Remembrance Day honours the people who served Canada and those who died in service. The date recalls the armistice that ended the fighting of the First World War at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918.

Many commemorations include two minutes of silence. Veterans Affairs Canada’s ceremony guide explains this tradition and the other elements of a remembrance service.

Remembrance includes people from many backgrounds who have served Canada, at home and around the world. Personal accounts help us learn about their experiences and the effects of service on families and communities.

November 8 is Indigenous Veterans Day. Learn about the contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Veterans through the government’s dedicated resources.

Poppies grew on battlefields during the First World War. John McCrae’s poem, In Flanders Fields, helped connect the flower with remembrance. The poppy was adopted as a remembrance symbol in Canada in 1921.

The flowers on this page are illustrative artwork, not an official Legion emblem.

Veterans Affairs Canada offers classroom resources for different ages: Take Time To Remember for ages 5–8, Tales of Animals in War for ages 7–11, and Canada Remembers Times for ages 12–18.

Its learning directory includes videos, lesson plans and Veteran interviews. Adults can choose resources suited to a child’s age and the questions they want to explore together.

The government’s learning resources introduce memorials, Canadian women in uniform, and Indigenous Veterans. They offer ways for young people to connect individual experiences with Canada’s history.

Explore a story together, make space for questions, and continue learning beyond November 11.

Veterans Affairs Canada maintains a directory of commemorative events. Use it to find ceremonies and activities, and check the organizer’s current details before attending.

Its guide to commemorative services also helps schools and community groups understand how remembrance ceremonies are organized.