Remembrance Day 2024 Program for the City of Windsor

Published

The City of Windsor has a proud tradition of gathering with local Veterans throughout the year to pay respects to those who have fallen in military service as well as all those who continue to serve today. This year, the City partners once again with the Windsor Veterans Memorial Services Committee, local military representatives, Windsor Police Service and others for a meaningful Remembrance Day program.

Window Decals and City Hall Illumination:

As part of the City’s commemoration initiatives, large window decals honouring Remembrance Day with images from the Canadian War Museum are once again on display on the main floor of City Hall at 350 City Hall Square West for the month of November. From November 8 to 12, 2024, City Hall will also be illuminated in red each night in honour of our Veterans.

Decorative Lighting Along Ouellette Avenue:

From November 8 to 12, 2024, the new decorative lighting recently installed along sections of Ouellette Avenue will be illuminated in red and white each night to honour our Veterans. These new lights were installed in partnership between the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association and the City of Windsor.

Museum Windsor Programming:

Museum Windsor will mark Remembrance Day on Saturday, November 9, 2024, with a special program that includes the following:

Free admission at the Chimczuk Museum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Opening of the new South African (Boer) War Monument: Remembering Those Who Served exhibition. This small display covers the history of the recently restored and rededicated monument in Jackson Park as well as the men who served in this South African conflict at the start of the 20th century.
Staff-guided free tour of Dieppe Gardens military monuments at 2 p.m. Registration is not required, and guests are asked to gather in the lobby of the Chimczuk Museum at 401 Riverside Drive West for the 2 p.m. start time.
Guided poppy-making craft for children at 1 p.m. at the Chimczuk Museum.

For more information on Museum Windsor, call 519-253-1812, or visit www.MuseumWindsor.ca. Art Windsor-Essex (AWE) will also offer free admission to the gallery on Saturday, November 9, 2024. For information on current exhibitions and programming at the gallery, visit www.ArtWindsorEssex.ca.

Veterans Banner Project:

Everyone is encouraged to visit the Olde Riverside section of Wyandotte Street East where street banners are once again on display through the end of November 2024 showing names, dates, and other commemorative information about some of the Veterans with connections to our community. This project, now in its third year, has approximately 40 banners on display. The project is led by Marty Flanagan and is a partnership between the Olde Riverside Town Centre Business Improvement Association (BIA), the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 255, and ENWIN.

We Remember Their Stories:

From November 1 to 8, 2024, previously recorded videos will be shared online highlighting local Veterans reflecting on their service, stories, and comrades. Many of these videos were produced through the Veterans Memories Project created by the Windsor Historical Society. The recordings will be shared via the City of Windsor’s Facebook page and Mayor Dilkens’ Facebook page.

Remembrance Day Virtual Conversations:

On November 9 and 10, 2024, two virtual roundtable discussions (recorded in 2020 and 2021) will be rebroadcast on social media. For these memorable conversations, Mayor Dilkens sat down with a group of local Veterans, officers, and military family members to reflect on the contributions of Veterans, their stories, the impact of a life of service on families and loved ones, and the importance of Remembrance Day. The recordings will be shared once again via the City of Windsor’s Facebook page and Mayor Dilkens’ Facebook page.

“Move Him Into the Sun” with Music Director Bruce Kotowich:

Monday, November 11, 2024. 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Salvation Army South-Windsor Chapel at 1201 Grand Marais Road.

The Windsor Classic Chorale (WCC) has a tradition of presenting a concert every November to honour those who gave their lives during the First and Second World Wars so that we might live in freedom today. This year, the WCC is proud to present a program commemorating the sacrifices made and the lives lost. There will be a reception immediately following the concert. The concert includes In Flanders Fields, Ukrainian Alleluia, After the War, and more. Tickets are available at Windsor Classic Chorale: Move Him Into the Sun, and include a $25 general admission rate, and $15 student rate.

Windsor’s Official Remembrance Day Service:

Monday, November 11, 2024, at 11 a.m.

Representatives of the Windsor Veterans Memorial Services Committee, military representatives, pre-registered wreath bearers, government officials, and members of the public will attend the Cenotaph at City Hall Square in downtown Windsor for an outdoor service. Special guest speakers representing our Veterans this year include His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Hunter Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Commander Chris Elliott, and Silver Cross Mother Theresa Charbonneau. Students from Grades 4 to 6 from Immaculate Conception Catholic Elementary School, and from Grades 5 to 6 from Dougall Avenue Public School will present messages of thanks and remembrance to local Veterans, and team up for a special reading of In Flanders Fields by John McCrae. The service will also be broadcast live on YourTV and via Facebook Live on the City of Windsor’s Facebook page. YourTV will also rebroadcast the service at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Wreath-Laying Information:

Organizations and individuals wishing to lay a wreath at the Remembrance Day Service this year must pre-register with Ms. Bonnie Burian, Secretary of the Windsor Veterans Memorial Services Committee (WVMSC), at 519-973-4057 by phone or at bburian@cogeco.ca by email. Please note that you may be requested to lay your wreath personally on site after 1 p.m. on November 11, 2024.

Quotes:

“The City of Windsor’s annual Remembrance Day program provides many opportunities to pay our respects, pause and reflect, and say thank you to the selfless men and women who fought to leave our world safer and better than they found it. From the images and stories on display in the windows of City Hall, and exhibitions at Museum Windsor … to a community choir performance, and commemorative street banner projects, there are many ways to remember our Veterans. I look forward to gathering once again on November 11 to observe Remembrance Day together as a community at the Cenotaph in downtown Windsor, where we commit to honouring our Veterans, to keeping their stories and memories alive and their legacies forever in our hearts. We will remember them.” - Mayor Drew Dilkens

“On November 11, as we should every day, we remember those who volunteered, sacrificed, served, fought and died for our freedom. We will never forget them. Once more this year, we welcome everyone to gather to remember. Join us in person or watch the television and online broadcasts. If you are unable to do either, then take a moment of silence at 11 a.m. or visit one of our many city monuments or Veterans sections of your local cemetery. There are many ways to join as a community to honour our heroes. We will remember. We will never forget.” - Paul Lauzon, President, Windsor Veterans Memorial Services Committee