Remembrance Day activities to honour veterans

KAMLOOPS – This week is Veteran's Week and poppies meant to help remind everyone of those that served this country can be seen almost everywhere you look.

In Kamloops there are not a lot of big events to mark the week, but two concerts, a veteran's lunch as well as a Remembrance Day ceremony are set to help honour the thousands of veterans that stood up for Canada in war and peace.

On Saturday, Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Lest We Forget, a remembrance concert, will be hosted by the Kamloops Choristers at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church on 6 Avenue. On Remembrance Day Monday at 7 p.m. the Cantabile Singers of Kamloops will also host a concert featuring a mix of readings and music to explore loss, war, peace and hope.

On Remembrance Day the local legion branch will lead a parade and ceremony, beginning at the Memorial Cairn at Riverside Park at 10:45 a.m. Assembly of the honour guard, playing of the Last Post and two minutes of silence will be followed by a fly-past from the 419 Squadron out of Cold Lake, Alta. A parade heading west down Lorne Street to 1 Avenue and then up Victoria for several blocks will follow at 11:40 a.m. Local cadets, guides and scouts will take part in the event as well.

A reception at the legion will take place following the parade while the Ridgepointe at Pineview hosts a complimentary lunch for all veterans.

If you still haven't got your poppy they are available at many retailers throughout the city.

On Nov. 23 a special tribute for Korean War Veterans will also be held for legion members. MP Cathy McLeod, Lt. Governor of B.C. Judith Guichon and Senator Nancy Green-Raine will be on hand to pay tribute to the veterans that served in the Korean War.

To contact a reporter for this story, email jstahn@infotelnews.ca, call (250)819-3723 or tweet @JennStahn.