Remembrance Day in Canada 2025: Honouring Sacrifice and Safeguarding Freedom

Each year, on November 11, Canadians pause for a moment of silence – a simple, solemn act that carries profound meaning. Remembrance Day is not merely a date on the calendar; it is a moment of collective reflection on the sacrifices made by generations who believed that peace, democracy, and human dignity were worth defending at all costs.

At ABM College, we join Canadians across the country in honouring those who served – and those who continue to serve – in the pursuit of a better, freer world.

The Meaning Behind the Silence

When it comes to Remembrance Day, two deeply symbolic things typically come to mind for Canadians – the iconic poppy and the war memorial in Ottawa.

The red poppy has long been a symbol of Remembrance Day, inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields” written by Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae during the First World War. The flower’s quiet resilience, growing from the scars of battlefields, reflects both loss and renewal. 

Similarly, in our nation’s capital, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier stands as a somber memorial honouring more than 118,000 Canadians – heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for peace and freedom.

The Necessity of Speaking Out

Beyond the poppies, memorials, and parades lies a deeper reminder: freedom and justice are not permanent conditions. They are fragile achievements, dependent on our collective willingness to remember the lessons of history and defend the values for which so many gave their lives.

Remembrance Day calls us to reflect not only on the horrors of war, but on the responsibilities of peace – compassion, tolerance, and vigilance against the forces that would erode them.

From the Past to the Present

The First and Second World Wars reshaped the world in ways that continue to define modern society. Canadians served bravely on the front lines and at home, standing up to tyranny and ensuring that the ideals of democracy prevailed. In doing so, they left us a legacy rooted in courage, unity, and moral clarity.

Yet, as history has shown time and again, peace is not self-sustaining. In recent years, we have witnessed the troubling reemergence of unthinkable ideologies that echo the very hatred and division once fought on foreign soil.

The International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism, observed on November 9, highlights that remembrance must be active – not passive. It commemorates Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass) in 1938, when violent attacks against Jewish communities in Nazi Germany marked a dark turning point toward the Holocaust. This day serves as both a memorial and a warning: prejudice and authoritarianism often begin quietly, cloaked in rhetoric of fear and false unity. Other times it is overt and toxic – threatening to plunge the world back into the darkness it fought so hard to escape.

Remembering is a Responsibility

As a college community dedicated to education, progress, and inclusivity, ABM College believes that Remembrance Day extends beyond military history. It is about understanding how easily intolerance can take root when compassion is forgotten, and how the pursuit of truth and learning can serve as a safeguard against the repetition of past mistakes.

In a world increasingly divided by misinformation and extremism, remembrance becomes a form of resistance – a refusal to forget what happens when humanity abandons empathy.

The courage of those who fought for freedom during the world wars was not only about winning battles, but about defending the fundamental rights of ALL people to live without fear or oppression. Honouring their sacrifice means carrying those values forward – standing up against discrimination, injustice, and hate wherever they appear, whether on a global scale or within our own communities.

A Moment to Reflect

On November 11 at 11 am, we observe two minutes of silence – a simple act that transcends generations and backgrounds. It is a time to think of those who served, those who never returned home, and those who continue to bear the physical and emotional scars of conflict.

But it is also a moment to reflect on the future – to ask ourselves how we, in our everyday actions, can contribute to a society rooted in respect, equality, and understanding.

At ABM College, we believe that education has a vital role in this process. Learning empowers individuals to think critically, act compassionately, and challenge injustice wherever it arises. These are not abstract ideals; they are the living continuation of the values for which so many sacrificed.

Lest We Forget

As the world becomes increasingly chaotic, the importance of Remembrance Day has never been greater. As the poppies bloom once more, let us honour their memory not only in ceremony but in practice – by building a Canada, and a world, where remembrance is more than a day.

It is a promise: Never Again.

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