More Canadians plan to honour those who served on Remembrance Day this year: survey

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – As Calgary gets ready to honour those who served, it appears more Canadians will attend Remembrance Day Ceremonies this year.

That’s according to a new Ipsos poll created for Historica Canada. It shows a 14 per cent increase in the number of Canadians who said they will participate in ceremonies compared to 2016.

CEO of Historica Canada Anthony Wilson-Smith said the number of Second World War veterans is declining which may explain this trend.

“The number of those people who served who used to be so common in every one of those communities are now really diminishing. The day is coming soon when they won’t be with us and I think Canadians collectively feel this is our time to say thank you and to pay respect.”

It’s not just veterans who will be honoured this year but their families.

Reine Samson Dawe, this year’s Silver Cross mother lost her son Cpt. Matthew Dawe in 2007 when he was serving in Afghanistan.

She said military families, who sacrifice along with their children when they’re deployed overseas, don’t want pity but do deserve respect.

“It has to be a constant thing, not something that you celebrate or underscore on Remembrance Day and then you ignore them.”

In Calgary, there are several events taking place leading up to Nov. 11, including the Field of Crosses on Memorial Drive.

There are also partnerships aimed at getting kids interested in Canadian military history.

The Royal Canadian Legion has partnered with the video game Fortnite, creating ‘Remembrance Island’. The custom map will feature First World War trenches, D-Day beaches and the Vimy Ridge Cenotaph.

Unlike the regular Fortnite maps, there is no violence on this island but instead plaques and fields of poppies.

With files from the Canadian Press

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