West Vancouver commemorates November 11th each year with a parade along Marine Drive and Remembrance Day ceremony at Memorial Park.
Remembrance Day in West Vancouver
The Remembrance Day event in West Vancouver runs from 10:45 am until 11:30 am. It begins with a parade starting at around Marine Drive and 18th Street. The procession heads west along the main road for a few blocks and stops in front of Memorial Park. This is located between 19th and 20th Street on Marine Drive.
The parade usually involves 100 to 200 participants including a dozen or so veteran seniors, a large contingent of cadets, and a few members of the military. Local police, fire departments and the West Vancouver Youth Band also participate.
The ceremonies are open to the public. The in-person event usually starts at 10:45 am and includes the parade and ceremony.
The procession typically marches just four or so blocks along Marine Drive before stopping in front of the Memorial Arch at Memorial Park. In 2023, the parade started at 18th Street at 10:45 am. The Remembrance Day ceremony took place at the park starting at around 10:55 am. 2024 will likely be the same, or at least similar.
The West Vancouver Remembrance Day ceremony features the usual two minutes of silence at 11:00 am. It also includes the laying of wreathes, a prayer and a brief speech or two. It’s a fairly short service and usually finishes at around 11:30 am.
Tips & Advice
Below are some tips and suggestions to help you make the most of your Remembrance Day experience in West Vancouver.
TIP #1: The event in West Vancouver is a nice one, and it’s fairly short. It includes a small parade and the ceremony includes everything you’d expect but lasts for only about half an hour (which makes it perfect for folks of all ages and attention spans).
TIP #2: Another nice thing about the West Vancouver event is its location. Dundarave Beach is close by, as is the West Van Aquatic Centre. The former is perfect for walks, picnics and fun on the playground apparatus after the service in years when the weather is good. The latter is popular for post-ceremony exercise, swimming and playing in the pools, especially on days when it’s raining.
TIP #3: Combine your outing to the West Van Remembrance Day ceremony with a visit to places of interest in the area. In addition to Dundarave Beach and the Aquatic Centre, other places within easy driving distance include Ambleside Park and the Park Royal shopping centre in one direction, and Lighthouse Park and Whytecliff Park in the other.
Other Information
For more information about the November 11th event on Marine Drive at Memorial Park, see the District of West Vancouver‘s website.
For details about other similar events, see our article about Remembrance Day in North Vancouver. Or, for a list of November 11th ceremonies all over the Lower Mainland, click Metro Vancouver Remembrance Day Events.
To learn more about the region, click West Vancouver or Vancouver’s North Shore.
For information about other things to do both this month and at other times of the year, check out any of the following:
