Coquitlam residents are encouraged to honour veterans in meaningful ways this Remembrance Day.
COQUITLAM, B.C., Nov. 2, 2021 – Coquitlam residents are encouraged to honour veterans in meaningful ways this Remembrance Day.
Coquitlam’s traditional Remembrance Day ceremony on Nov. 11, hosted by the Coquitlam Royal Canadian Legion Branch 263 – which typically attracts thousands to the Blue Mountain Park cenotaph – will take place by invite only again this year in order to protect public health.
Recognizing the importance of the day, the City of Coquitlam is providing a variety of safe options for residents to Remember in Place, including displaying poppy posters, submitting messages of remembrance, and supporting the Coquitlam Royal Canadian Legion Branch 263. Another option is participating in outdoor poppy painting as part of Coquitlam Remembers.
Honouring Veterans Safely
In recognition of the achievements and sacrifices of those who have served our nation in times of war and military conflict, the City is encouraging residents to show their respect for veterans in a variety of ways this year:
- Poppy Painting Along Veteran's Way: Stop by Blue Mountain Park (975 King Albert Ave.) to paint a poppy on the grass along Veteran’s Way as part of a temporary display. Schedule is as follows:
- Nov. 2, 7 from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m.;
- Nov. 3, 6, 10 from 1 to 4 p.m.;
- Nov. 4, 5, 8 from 3 to 7 p.m.; and
- Nov. 9 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at City Hall.
- Messages of Remembrance: Write a message of remembrance and tie it to a tree with yellow ribbon along Veteran's Way in Blue Mountain Park. The messages will be kept on the trees until Nov. 18 at which point they will be transcribed and forwarded to Canadian veteran groups. If you are unable to go in person, you can email your message to parkspark@coquitlam.ca. It will be transcribed and tied to a tree for you.
- Place your poppy: Join in this campaign to display poppy images throughout the community to show gratitude for veterans, similar to the Hearts for Healthcare campaign. Look for the full-page ad with a large poppy in the Tri-City News on Nov. 4, or go to www.coquitlam.ca/remembranceday to download a poppy image. Then post the image in your window or somewhere visible to others.
Residents can also support the Coquitlam Legion, and support programs for veterans, as follows:
- Donate to the poppy drive: This year, the Coquitlam Legion’s annual poppy drive, its primary fundraiser for veteran supports, will include a drive-by poppy booth at 1025 Ridgeway Ave. from 1 to 5 p.m. on Nov. 5, 6 and 7. Poppy masks are also available at the branch for $10 while supplies last. The Poppy Office is open Oct. 29 to Nov. 10 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Order a wreath: Wreaths in three sizes can be ordered from the Coquitlam Legion until Nov. 7, with the option of having it laid at the cenotaph on your behalf. Drop by the branch at 1025 Ridgeway Ave., call 604-937-0111 or email lgchapmanpoppychair@shaw.ca.
- Join the Coquitlam Legion: Anyone can become a member of the Legion, with fees supporting a variety of programs for veterans and their families. For information, email branch@rclegion263.ca, call 604-937-0111 or go to www.rclegion263.ca.
Other Options to Remember in Place on Nov. 11:
- Gather the household together for two minutes of silence to honour and remember those who have fallen in service for the country. Residents across the City are invited to join Legion Branch 263 members in spirit by observing two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. For a silent video to reflect upon, visit the Two Minutes of Silence page at www.legion.ca/remembrance.
- Tune in to the federal Remembrance Day ceremony on television or online.
- Read about the lives of Coquitlam soldiers in the First World War in the Coquitlam Archives online exhibit "Don't Forget Your Dadie": A Coquitlam Family & The First World War at www.coquitlam.ca/cityarchives.
- Visit the websites of the Royal Canadian Legion at www.legion.ca/remembrance, Veterans Affairs Canada at www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance or the Canadian War Museum at www.warmuseum.ca for articles and information.
Honouring Veterans Throughout the Year
The City commemorates the lives of fallen Coquitlam soldiers on rolls of honour on the second floor of City Hall, and at the cenotaph at Blue Mountain Park, open year-round. Those who wish to visit the cenotaph for a moment of silence or to lay a wreath to commemorate Remembrance Day are encouraged to do so before or after Nov. 11 to help prevent gatherings.
Coquitlam continues to provide free parking in City lots and street parking spaces for those displaying a veteran’s licence plate, a tradition started in 2006. For information, visit the Parking Regulations section at www.coquitlam.ca/parking.
Media contact:
Wendy Wiederick
Parks Operations Manager
City of Coquitlam
604-927-6224
parks@coquitlam.ca