'A great deal of respect': Remembrance Day ceremonies honour veterans across B.C.

B.C.'s sombre Remembrance Day ceremonies show thatBritish Columbians"stand in solidarity" with those who serve and served in the Armed Forces,Premier David Eby said.

In Prince George,more than 2,000 people filled several blocks surrounding the cenotaph on the lawn of city hall. This year's ceremony went ahead thanks to an anonymous $18,000 donation, which wasneeded to pay for associated costs.

Sheldon Clare, president of Legion Branch 43, said he was "in tears" after receiving the money and other donations from the public once word got out about the need for funds.

"It shows a great deal of respect to the veteran community and the need to have the sacrifice of all of these soldiers recognized," Clare said in an interview with CBC News.

For Second World War Merchant Navy veteran Percival (Percy) Smith, Remembrance Dayis not mainly about his comrades-in-arms who came home from war but about those who perished.

"It's about the thousandsof service men and women who didn't come back," Smith, 100,told CBC News whileattendingceremonies at Vancouver's VictorySquare wearing his medals and a poppy. "The amount of civilians who died for no reason at all, men, women and children ... I certainly think about them, rather than us who were very fortunate enough to survive the war."

And as he and other veterans reflected on Canada's past, several expressed concern about ongoing armed conflicts in other parts of the world today.

Smith said the current wave of bloodshed in the Middle East has brought up many painful memories.

"Right now we have places in Gaza and Israel in the Middle East, nothing has changed. What did we accomplish?" he asked.

"I hope our children and our grandchildren will make this a better place to live."

Hundreds also gathered in Cranbrook,where veteran Rob Bott spoke about his service as captain of the 552 Air Cadet Squadron.

"Lost a lot of people that I served with, in various exercises," he said. "I lost a brother actually ... Remembrance Day means quite a bit for me."

Premier Eby said in a statement that the large number of events heldacross the province show how important Remembrance Day is to every region.

He said theceremonies area reminder of British Columbians' "solidarity with active service membersas well as veterans" in every community.

"In these uncertain times, we must not forget the terrible sacrifice made by too many," Eby said in thestatement. "Conflicts around the world threaten people's lives, freedom and security.

"It is important we recognize the sacrifices of those who commit their lives to the service of our country."

WATCH | Grade 12 studentJacqueline Murray recites"They Do Not Chill Us So"

Student recites her award-winning poem at Vancouver's Remembrance Day ceremony

1 year ago

Duration 1:23

Jacqueline Murray, a Grade 12 student at Little Flower Academy, won this year's Cam Cathcart Youth Poem of Remembrance Award. She reads "They Do Not Chill Us So" at Vancouver's Remembrance Day ceremony.

In Kamloops,many families with children attended the local events, which included a flyoverby the419 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Founded in the Second World War, it is nicknamed the "Moose Squadron," after Kamloops-born pilotJohn "Moose" Fulton, who died during a European operation in 1942.

Other services across B.C. includedthe province's official Remembrance Day ceremony at 10:30 a.m. at the Victoria Cenotaph at the B.C. Legislature, which waspreceded by a parade to the site.