Remembrance Day in Surrey

Remembrance Day is commemorated in Surrey with a ceremony and parade at the Cenotaph outside the Surrey Museum in Cloverdale on November 11th.

Note: The Museum of Surrey is usually closed on statutory holidays. It’s open for part of the day, however, on Remembrance Day. It’s a great museum, highly recommended and admission is free.

Remembrance Day in Surrey

The main and largest Remembrance Day event in Surrey is the one in Cloverdale. There are also smaller ceremonies in Crescent Beach and Whalley most years, as well as in multiple other parts of the Lower Mainland.

Click Remembrance Day in Metro Vancouver for a list of ceremonies in other municipalities. See below for information about the main November 11th event in Surrey.

(Note: Event details are subject to change.)

Remembrance Day in Cloverdale

The Remembrance Day ceremony in Cloverdale happens at the Cenotaph in the plaza between the Surrey Museum (at 17710 56a Avenue) and the Surrey Archives building. The event is attended by cadets, RCMP officers, members of the military, veterans, local dignitaries, families and the general public.

The Cloverdale event usually runs from around 10:00 am until 1:00 pm. It includes the official ceremony with the laying of the wreaths, the marching in and out of official participants, and family-friendly activities at the museum. Hundreds of people attend.

The general public usually gathers in the stands and around the edges of the plaza at the Cenotaph by the Surrey Museum in the morning. Prior to the ceremony, cadets, red-uniformed members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and veterans line up along nearby 176a Street in preparation for the initial procession.

Veterans in Surrey — Veterans Preparing to March on 176a Street

The march to the Cenotaph typically starts at around 10:00 am. It’s a parade, but a fairly short one. The service at the Cenotaph begins shortly thereafter. The traditional two minutes of silence is observed at 11:00 am, and the procession of cadets and officers departs at around 11:30 am.

After the main ceremony, the Surrey Museum hosts a variety of child-friendly activities including crafts and entertainment. It does so again in 2023 between 9:30 am and 1:00 pm.

Remembrance Day in Surrey

Tips & Advice

Below are a couple of suggestions to help you make the most of your Cloverdale Remembrance Day experience.

TIP #1: Arrive early, like by at least 9:30 am, if you want a chance of finding a seat. Most people stand, but there are usually bleachers for people who need them (although they do fill up).

TIP #2: The ceremony in Cloverdale isn’t Surrey’s only Remembrance Day event. For other venues see the City of Surrey‘s website.