Remembrance Day is out of sight, out of mind, right? Not going to think about it for another calendar year? Well, I exaggerate because, of course, many Canadians do think a lot about these issues, but largely we use Remembrance day as a one-day-only affair where we think quite concentrated on these issues and then we don't go back to it again for another year.
00:00:00.000So now the formal part of Remembrance Day observances is over. The cenotaphs, the wreath-laying ceremonies, the assemblies at our schools in different provinces across the country.
00:00:15.880So now, out of sight, out of mind, right? Not going to think about it, not going to talk about it for another calendar year.
00:00:22.880Well, I kind of exaggerate because, of course, many Canadians do think a lot about these issues, but largely we use Remembrance Day as a one-day-only affair, where we think quite concentratedly on these issues, and then we don't go back to it again for another year.
00:00:38.960Now, I'm not necessarily blaming Canadians for this because we know we live busy lives and there's a lot competing for our attentions, but I think now when we're still sort of in that moment of reflecting on Remembrance Day,
00:00:50.980it's an important time where we can say, hang on a second, how can we make this something of a year-long issue, talking about remembering Canada's wartime contributions,
00:01:01.860talking about honoring those who serve, those who did serve, those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. There are many ways to do it.
00:01:09.020There are national debates to be had about whether or not Remembrance Day should be made a national holiday.
00:01:14.180Right now, it's observed in a number of provinces in all territories, but not in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland.
00:01:21.120Do you think people should have the day off so they can observe it?
00:01:24.920Some people say, no, absolutely not, because it'll cheapen it and people will just treat it like Boxing Day and so forth.
00:01:30.020What's going to happen with the kids who usually have the assemblies in schools that day?
00:01:33.600But if you speak to people in British Columbia and Alberta, they say, we're doing just fine, thank you.
00:01:38.260And a lot of people do make the effort to go out to the ceremonies and the schools, well, they make a point of having those assemblies on the day before school breaks, before having that holiday.
00:01:50.520Let's also talk about different specific ways that we can honor our veterans and those who continue to serve all throughout.
00:01:57.880There are conversations about respecting new veterans, acknowledging the contributions that they have to make when they leave military service and enter civilian life.