Remembrance Day is on November 11th and on that day there are usually ceremonies, parades and other events throughout Vancouver.

In 2022, November 11th is on a Friday.

Lower Mainland Remembrance Day Events

There are usually over 30 different Remembrance Day events in the Lower Mainland on November 11th.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, there weren’t any large parades and mass gatherings at ceremonies across the Lower Mainland in 2020 and 2021. Some events happened online, while other ceremonies were not to be attended by the general public. The few in-person events that did happen were by invitation only.

As of early November, most 2022 ceremonies seem to be open to the public. Details about some are still to be confirmed.

Below is a list of just some of the Remembrance Day events that nor, including ones at the following locations:

Abbotsford | Burnaby | Coquitlam | Delta (Ladner) | Fort Langley

Langley | Maple Ridge | New Westminster | North Vancouver | Pitt Meadows | Port Coquitlam

Port Moody | Richmond | Surrey | Vancouver | West Vancouver

Note: Remembrance Day event details for 2022 are to be confirmed. Check with your local Legion or municipal government website for exact information, or check out the Canadian Legion website.

If you are unfamiliar with this holiday, click Remembrance Day to learn about the significance of the occasion.

REMEMBRANCE DAY CHOIR CONCERTS

Choir concerts also happen around Remembrance Day in the Lower Mainland. In 2022 the Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir performs in North Vancouver on November 6th and in Delta on November 11th. The Chor Leoni men’s choir, meanwhile, has concerts in Vancouver on November 10th and 11th.

Remembrance Day in Abbotsford

A parade is followed by the laying of wreaths at Thunderbird Memorial Square on Veterans Way behind Abbotsford City Hall (which is located at 32315 South Fraser Way). The parade usually begins to form on November 11th at about 10:30 am at the corner of Simon Avenue and Cruikshank Street.

In 2021 there was an online Remembrance Day ceremony. In 2022 the event is happening in-person and is open to the public. The parade begins at 10:30 am and the ceremony starts 15 minutes later. A livestream is also available on the City of Abbotsford YouTube page.

For more details see the City of Abbotsford website.

Remembrance Day in Burnaby

In Burnaby there are Remembrance Day events in North Burnaby and South Burnaby. Both events are happening in 2022.

The parade in North Burnaby begins at the McGill Library at about 10:30 am and is followed by a Remembrance Day ceremony at the Confederation Park Cenotaph which is on Penzance Drive not far from Willingdon Avenue.

• Suggestion: If the weather is good, explore the trails at Confederation park either before or after the event.

The Remembrance Day event in South Burnaby includes a parade starting outside Firehall #3 at the corner of Marlborough Avenue and Bennett Street. There is also a service at the Cenotaph at the corner of Nelson Avenue and Jubilee Street in Bonsor Park. The event starts at 10:30 am and everything is finished by around noon.

• Suggestion: Deer Lake, Confederation Park and Burnaby Mountain are all pretty this time of year. If the weather is good, go for a nice walk and explore after the services. If it’s rainy, however, don’t forget that Metropolis at Metrotown is a good indoor place to be (if you like shopping) and not far from the South Burnaby event.

Click Remembrance Day in Burnaby for more information.

Remembrance Day in Coquitlam

The Remembrance Day ceremony in Coquitlam starts at 10:15 am at Como Lake Middle School at 1121 King Albert Avenue. The procession goes down Winslow Avenue to the Cenotaph on Veteran’s Way at the east end of Blue Mountain Park. The parade is then followed by ceremonies at the Cenotaph.

• Suggestion: There are lots of nice places in the area to go for a walk or bike ride afterwards. For hikes, Sasamat Lake and Buntzen Lake are especially beautiful and not too far away. Mundy Park is also a nice place to walk around.

The 2021 parade was cancelled but other activities were available. In 2022 the parade and ceremonies are open to the public. Like last year, the City of Coquitlam is also hosting Poppy Painting and Messages of Remembrance events leading up to November 11th.

See our article about the Coquitlam Parade & Ceremony for more information.

Remembrance Day in Delta (Ladner)

There is a Remembrance Day parade in South Delta (Ladner) on November 11th at the Cenotaph at Ladner Memorial Park at 5010-47th Avenue at 10:40 am (but possibly starting at the Legion at 4896 Delta Street). Parking is available near both the park and the Legion. The parade is actually more of a procession of kids and their parents than a full parade, but nice for members of the local community.

• Suggestion: While in Delta, consider a trip out to the Reifel Bird Sanctuary if the weather is good. The snow geese are at their peak around Remembrance Day most years, as are the ducks.

In 2021 this ceremony was closed to the public. It was filmed and broadcast on TV so people could watch it from their homes. In 2022 the ceremony takes place from 10:35 until about 11:40 am and is open to the public this year.

See the City of Delta‘s website for details.

Remembrance Day in Fort Langley

Remembrance Day ceremonies in the historic town of Fort Langley take place at the gardens across from Saint Andrews Cemetery at 23105 Glover Road. The procession begins at about 10:25 and is followed by the service at 10:40. Most years, at 11 o’clock there is a flypast by the Fraser Blues vintage aircraft team (although not likely this year). In 2022 the ceremony begins at 10:15 am.

• Suggestion: After the ceremony go for a stroll or bike ride along the river or go visit the Fort Langley National Historic Site.

For more information click Fort Langley on Remembrance Day.

Remembrance Day in Langley

In addition to the ceremony in Fort Langley, a couple of other Remembrance Day services also take place in Langley including one at the Douglas Park Cenotaph and another at the Aldergrove Legion.

The Douglas Park event starts with a procession from Timms Community Centre at 20399 Douglas Crescent. Formal service then begins at the Cenotaph at 20550 Douglas Crescent at about 10:45. The ceremonies there include the recitation of poetry (i.e., In Flanders Fields) and the singing of traditional hymns. Most years there is also a flypast by the Fraser Blues and their vintage aircraft (although that might not be the case in 2022).

Langley’s other Remembrance Day event takes place starting at 10:45 am at the Aldergrove Legion at 26607 Fraser Highway. After a short procession there is sometimes a traditional-style service with a flypast by the Fraser Blues vintage aircraft (but maybe not this year). There is also a potluck lunch and entertainment back at the Legion following the ceremony. See the Township of Langley‘s website for more details.

In 2021, both of these events were closed to the public and were broadcast online. In 2022 the Aldergrove Legion event is set to take place from 10:45 am until noon. The Douglas Park event begins at 10:50 am.

For more information about the events click Aldergrove and Douglas Park.

Remembrance Day in Maple Ridge

In 2022 the parade in Maple Ridge starts at 10:30 in the morning from the Legion Building at 12101-224th Street. The procession then makes its way to the Cenotaph in Memorial Peace Park near City Hall where the official ceremony takes place.

The service at the Cenotaph isn’t a long one. It starts at 11 o’clock and usually finishes by around 11:30.

• Suggestion: After the ceremony, if the weather is good, check out the fall colours at Golden Ears Provincial Park or go for a walk or short bike ride by Pitt Lake or at Kanaka Creek Park.

In 2021, like the previous year, the Maple Ridge Legion Branch asked residents to observe Remembrance Day from home. In 2022 the public is welcome to join the in-person parade and ceremony starting at 10:30 am.

See our article about November 11th in Maple Ridge for more information.

Remembrance Day in New Westminster

The ceremony in BC’s former colonial capital normally takes place at the Royal Westminster Regiment Armouries at the corner of 6th and Queens. Following the ceremony there is a parade to the Cenotaph at the front of City Hall where there is a second ceremony and the traditional two minutes of silence and wreath laying occur.

The ceremonies at the Armouries are indoors, and it’s a fairly big place. This makes it an especially good event to attend on Remembrance Days when it’s raining. The service outside City Hall, however, is outside.

In 2022 the parade starts at 10:15 am and the outdoor service begins 15 minutes later. This year, the service is open to the public and also livestreamed online.

• Suggestion: A nice place for a walk or leisurely cycle ride after the Remembrance Day event is along the New Westminster waterfront or in Queens Park.

For more information click Remembrance Day in New Westminster.

Remembrance Day in North Vancouver

The Remembrance Day parade and ceremony in North Vancouver is a fair-sized affair, although smaller than the one in downtown Vancouver at Victory Square and the main ones in municipalities like Richmond and Surrey.

In North Vancouver, the event usually begins at the Armoury at Forbes Avenue and 15th Street and proceeds to the Victoria Park Cenotaph on East Keith Road near Lonsdale Avenue.

This event didn’t take place in-person for the general public in 2021. It did happen, but for a small group of invited guests only. The general public was asked not to attend, but to still mark the occasion on their own.

In 2022 the event runs from 10:30 am until noon. The ceremony is open to the public this year.

For more information about the event at Victory Park, click Remembrance Day in the City of North Vancouver.

In addition to the Victoria Park service, Remembrance Day ceremonies also take place at Cates Park at 4141 Dollarton Highway.

• Suggestion: While on the North Shore check out any of North Vancouver‘s world-class attractions and parks including Lynn Canyon Park, Deep Cove, Lonsdale Quay and Rice Lake.

Like most other Remembrance Day events in the Lower Mainland, there were no public ceremonies at Cates Park in 2021, but there is in 2022 starting at 10:15 am.

For more information about the event at Cates Park, click Remembrance Day in the District of North Vancouver.

Remembrance Day in Pitt Meadows

Remembrance Day in Pitt Meadows begins with a procession from 119B Street along Harris Road, ceremonies at the Cenotaph in Spirit Square (which is also known as šxʷhék̓ ʷnəs) and then a reception at the community Centre. Between around 1500 and 2000 people typically attend.

In 2020 and 2021, there were no in-person events in Pitt Meadows. Fortunately, the 2022 ceremonies sound like they’re open to the public once again. This year, the procession begins at 10:45 am but folks wanting to lay a wreath must bring it to the Cenotaph before 10:30 am.

For more details click November 11th Ceremonies in Pitt Meadows.

Remembrance Day in Port Coquitlam

The Remembrance Day ceremonies in Port Coquitlam begin at 10:00 am at the Cenotaph at Veterans Park at 2580 Shaughnessy Street. At the event there are veterans, members of the Royal Canadian Legion, police officers and cadets, plus members of the general public and a few VIPs. The ceremonies include the traditional 2 minutes of silence and laying of the wreathes.

In 2020 and 2021, the ceremonies were closed to the public. The 2022 ceremony is open to the public. It begins at 10:00 am at Veterans Park.

For more details click November 11th in Port Coquitlam.

Remembrance Day in Port Moody

Remembrance Day in Port Moody involves a service, parade, ceremony and entertainment.

The inter-faith, non-denominational service takes place at 9:30 am at the Kyle Centre at 125 Kyle Street. That’s followed by the parade and ceremony beginning at 10:30 at the Port Moody Arts Centre at 2425 St. Johns Street.

Afternoon and evening entertainment takes place at the Royal Canadian Legion at 2529 Clarke Street. In 2019 entertainment included the SFU Pipe & Drum Band, the Heather Jolley Scottish Tartan Dancers, Linda Szentes & the Jazz Links, and then the Inlet Jazz Band. The Legion usually invites the community to enjoy the Remembrance Day celebration with them and pay respect to Port Moody’s veterans.

There were no public in-person ceremonies in Port Moody in 2021, but there are in 2022.

See our article about Remembrance Day in Port Moody for more details.

Remembrance Day in Richmond

In Richmond there is a parade on November 11th at 10:20 am followed by a ceremony at the Cenotaph on the east side of Richmond City Hall at 11:00 am. The ceremony includes the traditional two minutes of silence, the singing of O Canada and the laying of wreaths.

Ending at about noon, most years the ceremony also includes a performance of the poem “In Flanders Fields” by the RC Palmer Secondary School Choir, as well as buglers and pipers playing the Last Post, Lament and Reveille.

• Suggestion: After the ceremonies check out the fall colours in nearby Minoru Park, or go for a stroll or bike ride along the waterfront in Steveston Village.

After being closed to the public in 2021, the ceremony is open to everyone in 2022. For those who cannot attend, the service is also available to watch online on the City of Richmond website starting at 10:40 am.

Click Richmond Remembrance Day Ceremony for further details.

Remembrance Day in Surrey

Surrey’s Main Remembrance Day Ceremonies take place at the Cloverdale Cenotaph by the Surrey Museum at 17710 56A Avenue from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. After the official ceremony there is a short procession along 176a Street.

On November 11th both the Surrey Museum and Surrey Archives are open to the public for a few hours.

• Suggestion: While in Surrey, consider visiting Bear Creek Park to check out the fall colours, or if in the Crescent Beach area go for a stroll along the waterfront or through Elgin Heritage Park.

In 2021, as was the case in 2020, there was no big public event. In 2022 the ceremony is open to the public again. There are also activities available at the Surrey Museum and Surrey Archives building between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm.

Click Remembrance Day in Cloverdale for more details.

Remembrance Day in Vancouver

Remembrance Day events take place in a number of locations around the City of Vancouver on November 11, including at the Cenotaph at Victory Square downtown and in Stanley Park at the Japanese Canadian War Memorial. There’s also an annual ceremony at the University of British Columbia.

Victory Square Event

The ceremony at the Cenotaph at Victory Square is particularly impressive. It’s also the region’s longest running annual Remembrance Day ceremony. As many as 15,000 people attend in a typical year.

The event at Victory Square starts at about 10:00 am and takes place at the park at the corner of West Hastings Street and Cambie. The service often includes a performance by a couple of groups from the Vancouver Bach Choir. Many years there are also the sounds of a 21-gun salute by the 15th Field Artillery Regiment firing from Portside Park, and a Royal Canadian Air Force fly-past, weather permitting (although that may or may not be the case this year).

The Victory Square ceremonies took place online in 2020. In 2021 the ceremonies were by invite-only and broadcast on Global BC. The ceremonies in 2022 run from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm as an in-person event.

Click Downtown Parade and Ceremony for more information.

Stanley Park Event

The ceremony at the Japanese Canadian Cenotaph in Stanley Park starts at 10:40 am and runs until about 11:30 am. What’s special about this service is that it takes place in Stanley Park which is especially stunning this time of year with its fall colours.

• Suggestion: While in the downtown area, and especially if at the Japanese Canadian Cenotaph ceremonies, wander around Stanley Park afterwards and enjoy some of the best fall colours in the Lower Mainland. Close to the Victory Square ceremonies, in Chinatown, the fall colours are also nice at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden and, a drive further south, Queen Elizabeth Park and VanDusen Botanical Garden are also beautiful this time of year.

The same as 2020, the 2021 ceremonies for this event took place virtually. In 2022 the ceremonies are happening in-person and online on the Nikkei Museum‘s YouTube channel. Everyone is welcome to attend the service in Stanley Park.

Click Stanley Park Ceremony for more information.

UBC Event

The University of British Columbia also holds a ceremony each year. The event takes place in the War Memorial Gymnasium located at 6081 University Boulevard.

In addition to the typical service, there is music by local groups. In 2022 the performances are with UBC’s School of Music. Although the event takes place on campus, folks from surrounding communities are welcome to attend most years.

2022 marks the ceremony’s 72nd year. Doors open at 10:00 am on November 11th and the ceremony commences at 10:45. A livestream is also available online for those who can’t make it inside.

Click UBC Ceremony for more information.

Remembrance Day in West Vancouver

The Remembrance Day parade and service in West Vancouver usually takes place from about 10:45 am until noon on Marine Drive at 20th Street by Memorial Park.

• Suggestion: While in West Vancouver, if the weather is good, go for a stroll along the waterfront at Ambleside, John Lawson Park and Dundarave. All are close by, beautiful places to walk and connected by the seawall.

The West Vancouver ceremonies were cancelled in 2020, and 2021 ceremonies were private. Fortunately, the 2022 service is open to the public.

Click November 11th in West Vancouver for more information.

Other Information

For information about other Remembrance Day services in Metro Vancouver and other parts of BC, check out the Canadian Legion website. In total there are close to three dozen events in the Lower Mainland alone.

For ideas on other things to do this month, check out Vancouver’s Best Places’ November Calendar.