One of Metro Vancouver’s largest Remembrance Day ceremonies usually takes place at the Royal Westminster Regiment Armouries on November 11th.
November 11th in New Westminster
New Westminster is home to the Royal Westminster Regiment Armouries which is located at 530 Queens. That’s where the city’s Remembrance Day ceremonies begin most years on November 11th.
Due to COVID-19, the 2020 Remembrance Day ceremony in New Westminster didn’t happen in its usual format. The ceremony was held as a virtual event without the public in attendance. 2021 was the same except that there was a livestream broadcast by the City of New Westminster.
In 2022 the ceremonies happened in-person and were also livestreamed online. The parade began at 10:15 am and the outdoor service started at 10:30 am.
City of New Westminster Ceremonies
Note: In addition to and complementing the event at the Armoury most years, the City of New Westminster has its own Remembrance Day Ceremony (which is technically a separate event). If you don’t want to join the event at the Armoury (or it’s too full and you can’t get in) you can simply wait 45 minutes or so and join the second event.
The city’s Remembrance Day ceremony usually starts at 10:15 am with a procession along Sixth Street to City Hall. (The parade is actually a continuation of the event from the Armoury where the first group simply joins the second.) It’s here that the Mayor and other dignitaries speak, there’s a two-minute silence and wreathes are laid at the Cenotaph.
The New Westminster Ceremonies
When the live in-person ceremonies take place, with the first event in New Westminster, the doors to the Armoury close at 9:45 am and the ceremonies begin shortly thereafter. Participants are, therefore, asked to be inside and get settled by around 9:30 am. Details about services at the Armoury in 2023 are to be confirmed.
Apart from starting indoors, the ceremonies in New Westminster are similar to those at Remembrance Day events in other communities. There is a band, lots of people in uniform, a prayer and a solemn speech or two.
After the formal indoor service, which is less than an hour, participants usually exit the Armoury and march in procession outside and along Royal Avenue to New Westminster’s City Hall which is located just a few blocks away at 511 Royal Avenue. There, in front of the Cenotaph, wreaths are laid and the traditional two minutes of silence are observed at 11:00 am.
Tips and Advice
Below are some tips and suggestions to help you make the most of your November 11th experience in New Westminster.
TIP #1: Arrive early if you want to see the ceremony from within the Armoury. Space is limited and, don’t forget, the doors close at 9:45 am sharp.
TIP #2: If you don’t get in at the Armoury, or if you want to sleep in and arrive later, you can still catch the procession along Royal Avenue and the two minutes of silence at the Cenotaph in front of City Hall. That too is interesting.
TIP #3: Being one of the few major ceremonies that takes place indoors, expect the venue to be especially popular if the forecast calls for rain.
TIP #4: In past years, Queens Avenue United Church, which is across the street from the Armoury, has been open for overflow crowds to watch the ceremonies via live video.
TIP #5: The Royal Westminster Regiment Armouries building is wheelchair accessible. Guide dogs for the visually impaired are also welcome.
TIP #6: If the weather is good, after the ceremonies consider going for a walk and exploring nearby Tipperary Park or enjoying a stroll along New Westminster’s waterfront.
Other Information
For more information about the November 11th ceremonies in New Westminster see the Royal Canadian Legion website or the City of New Westminster‘s website.
For a list of ceremonies in other communities in the region, click Remembrance Day in Metro Vancouver.
To learn about Canada’s November 11th national holiday and why it’s celebrated, click Remembrance Day.
For information about the surrounding area, see our article about New Westminster.
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
- Vancouver’s November Calendar
- Festivals & Events
- Best Vancouver Autumn Places
- Lower Mainland Parks and Nature
