Canadian soldiers returning from Vimy Ridge
Photo courtesy of the Vimy Ridge Foundation, colourized by Canadian Colour
Canadian War Museum George Metcalf Archival Collection 19920085-295

Lest we forget

November 11     Remembrance Day

Level 3

November 11 is Remembrance Day in Canada. On this day we honour Canadians who fought and died in wars. Many communities have special events and parades on Remembrance Day.

Watch this Remembrance Day ad from the Government of Canada

Red poppies

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow …
Photo by Pixabay

Sixty thousand Canadians died in World War I. Many were buried in Flanders fields in Belgium. Red poppies grow on the graves in the fields. Red poppies are the symbol of Remembrance Day. People donate to help veterans by buying poppies from veterans on the street.

Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McRae wrote a famous poem about war and the poppies called In Flanders Fields.

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• Remembrance Day
• Listen to the story Remembrance Day
  Reading by: Patty Bossort

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Resources:

Learn more about the poem, In Flanders Fields, and the man who wrote it.

Watch this video, The Poppy Story from Poppy Scotland Education.

Look at these resources for teachers and educators provided by the Vimy Foundation about the upcoming centennial of Vimy Ridge in their Vimy 100 in the Classroom.

Contest for young Canadians aged 14 – 17. Vimy Pilgrimage Award. 

2017 is the 100th anniversary of the Battle at Vimy Ridge. 

Learn more about The Battle at Vimy Ridge.

Story reprinted from The Westcoast Reader newspaper,  September / October 2016