(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
November 10, 2016 - 1:26 PM
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN — Friday marks an important annual day in Canada’s calendar — Remembrance Day — and most communities in the Thompson and Okanagan regions are holding ceremonies to mark the occasion.
Across the country and region veterans will be marching, flags will be brought to half mast and wreaths will be laid in to honour those who have served Canada.
If you're planning on attending a ceremony, click on your community to find out more:
Kamloops’s Riverside Park will be central to the day’s ceremonies. Things start at 10:30 a.m. with a ceremony to follow, including a fly past of fighter jets from the 419 Squadron. Following the ceremony and a march out a free dance will be held in the legions upstairs lounge at 452 Lansdowne St. At 7 p.m. St. Andrews Presbyterian Church at Sixth Avenue and Douglas Street is hosting a concert by the Cantabile Singers of Kamloops. Admission is by donation.
In Kelowna a parade will march from Stuart Park to City Park’s cenotaph at 10:30 a.m. before the ceremony starts. Following a social remembrance will be held at the Parkinson recreation Centre at 1800 Parkinson Way from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.The Okanagan Military Museum at 1424 Ellis St. will also be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with stories from locals who served.
Penticton’s Trade and Convention Centre will host the ceremony. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. and attendees are asked to arrive by 10:15 a.m. The service will start at 10:30 a.m. Veterans will be marching from the Penticton Curling Club in advance of the ceremony.
Vernon will be holding a ceremony at 9:30 a.m. at Kal Tire Place at 3445 43 Ave. The service will be followed by refreshments at the local legion at 5101 25 Ave.
Armstrong’s ceremony is taking place at the Hassen Memorial Arena in the fair grounds with ceremonies starting at 10:45 a.m. A parade will include cadets, guides and scouts. A lunch will be held at the local legion afterwards, followed by a supper at 5 p.m. The dinner will be $7 for non-veterans.
In Ashcroft a parade with local Sea Cadets will start at 10:30 a.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion at 300 Brink St. A breakfast will precede ceremonies, starting at 8 a.m. Afterwards an open house with lunch and entertainment.
Barriere will be holding a ceremony at the Legion branch at 681 Shaver Road, starting at 10:45.
The Chase Community Hall will be hosting a local ceremony, with a parade starting at 10:30 a.m. at 537 Shuswap Ave.
Cherryville will be holding a ceremony for the first time at it’s new cenotaph at the Cherryville Community Hall. It will start at 10:40 a.m.
In Enderby a parade will march from the legion at 909 Belvedere St. to Cenotaph Park on Mil Avenue. The march will start at 10:35 a.m. and ceremonies at the park will commence at 10:45 a.m.
Ceremonies in Keremeos will start at 10:45 a.m. at the cenotaph in Memorial Park. A parade will depart from the local legion at the same time. A hot lunch and refreshments will be held after the ceremony back at the legion branch.
People in Lake Country and Oyama can find a ceremony at the George Elliot Secondary School Gym at 10241 Bottom Wood Lake Rd. The ceremony, which starts at 10:30 a.m. is hosted by the Oyama Legion. A procession will travel from the cenotaph in Memorial Park on Main Street. Afterwards an open house will be at the legion branch at 15712 Oyama Rd.
The Lumby ceremony will take place at the Lumby Cenotaph. Starting at 10:30 a.m. a march will travel from the local legion branch to the cenotaph. The ceremony runs from 10:55 a.m. to 11:30, when there will be a march back to the legion, at 2016 Miller St. At 12 p.m. there will be a graveside ceremony at the cemetery.
Lytton starts things at 10 a.m. with a parade from in front of the RCMP station at 665 Main St. At 10:30 a.m. the ceremony will begin at 141 Fourth St. A potluck will follow the ceremony.
The Merritt Civic Centre at 1950 Mamette Ave. will be hosting the ceremony, starting at 10 a.m.
In Naramata the ceremony starts at the Memorial in Manitou Park at 10:45 a.m.. Following, in the Naramata Community Church Hall, there will be an event, which may include music, poetry, readings, stories and remembrances.
Okanagan Falls Community Centre will start hosting at 10 a.m. A parade to the legion will start at 11 a.m. for a cenotaph service with the laying of wreaths. After the local legion is open for conversations, food and music at 5009 Veterans Way.’
Oliver starts things a bit earlier than most with an interdenominational service starting at 9:45 a.m. in the community centre at 6359 Park Dr. At 10:40 a.m.there is a parade to the cenotaph followed at 11 a.m. by services and a wreath laying ceremony. Post-ceremony attendees are invited to the legion hall, 36217 Highway 97, for refreshments. At 2 p.m., there will be a free family movie at the Oliver Theatre, 5852 Main St.
Osoyoos residents can attend the event at the Sonora Community Centre gym. The ceremony starts at 10:45 a.m. and will be followed by wreath laying at the cenotaph at 8711 Main St.
Peachland will hold a ceremony starting at 10:20 a.m. at the Peachland Community Centre at 4450 Sixth St. followed by refreshments at the Peachland legion at 4407 Second St.
Rutland will have a ceremony at the cenotaph at Lions Park with a parade starting at 10:30 a.m. The event, organized by the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans Unit 376, will be followed by an open house at the unit’s clubhouse at 270 Dougall Rd. North.
Salmon Arm will have a ceremony at the the cenotaph at the intersection of 3rd St. and Okanagan Ave. followed by refreshments at the legion branch at 141 Hudson Ave.
A march will start in Summerland at 10:45 a.m., ending at the cenotaph in Memorial Park. A free luncheon will follow at the legion at 14205 Rosedale Ave. It will be followed by a turkey dinner in the evening. Tickets are $15 for the dinner, except for veterans, who eat free.
In West Kelowna the local legion is hosting the ceremony at Royal LePage Place, 2760 Cameron Rd. A parade will take place beforehand. Organizers request attendees arrive by 10 a.m.
Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops held a ceremony on campus Thursday, Nov. 10, while the University of British Columbia - Okanagan held a ceremony Wednesday, Nov. 9, as the schools are closed on the 11,
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