This year marks the 100th anniversary of the poppy and Markham’s Remembrance Day honours and remembers all who have fallen for our country and acknowledges the courage of those who still serve. This will be the second year that the City of Markham will mark November 11th virtually in order to protect veterans and the community from COVID-19.
The poppy was first adopted by the Great War Veterans Association in July of 1921 as a symbol of remembrance and its use continued after the group unified with other Veteran groups to form the Canadian Legion in 1925. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the poppy, the City of Markham sign will be coloured red from November 6th to November 14th.
During this period of Remembrance, the City is inviting the community to contribute their memories and messages of remembrance to Markham’s virtual Book of Remembrance through the end of November.
On Thursday, November 11, the public is invited to watch the City’s virtual Remembrance Day video featuring original poetry readings by the winners of the City of Markham’s annual Remembrance Day Poetry Contest:
- Empty Mercy by Luke Zhang, Grade 8 student at St. Justin Martyr Catholic Elementary School
- A Field of Red by Angelina Wang, Grade 9 student at St. Robert Catholic High School
- The Poppies Grew by Rida Zainab, Grade 11 student at Milliken Mills High School
To provide time to reflect and space to participate safely, the City invites the community to place a poppy and pay their respects to our veterans at Markham’s memorial sites during Remembrance Week, from November 6 to 13:
- Markham Village Veterans Square and Cenotaph, Southeast corner of Markham Road and Highway 7, Markham Village
- Crosby Memorial Arena Cenotaph, 210 Main Street, Unionville
Please remember to follow physical distancing guidelines, and to wear masks if keeping 2 metres/6 feet apart from others cannot be maintained. In-person Remembrance Day ceremonies will not take place at Markham’s memorial sites this year.
What does Remembrance Day mean to you? Another way to mark Remembrance Day if you are creative, is to submit a piece of art. Markham Arts Council will be hosting a Remembrance Day art contest. For more details click here.