THUNDER BAY – Veterans groups are preparing for a Remembrance Day like no other, as the COVID-19 pandemic throws traditional plans for ceremonies and fundraising for a loop.
In-person public participation may not be possible for ceremonies at Waverley Park, the Fort William Gardens, and Mount Mackay due to provincial limits of 25 people for outdoor gatherings.
Les Newman, president of the Port Arthur Branch 5 legion, has been involved in local ceremonies since 1971. This year marks the first time he’d seen major disruptions to the event.
“It’s always been a very large celebration,” he said, usually drawing between 500 and 2,000 people.
The legion is looking at plans to film more limited proceedings at the Waverley Park cenotaph on Nov. 11, he said, with the potential to livestream it so residents could join from their homes or places of work.
This year, COVID-19 restrictions will likely prevent even some core participants such as cadet corps from joining in person, he said.
The group will likely have to ask those not invited to the ceremony to stay away, “for the sake of everyone’s health.”
While it may not compare with the usual mass gathering, Newman said letting the annual tradition lapse simply wasn’t an option.
“I’m hoping at the very least, it will keep the whole concept of Remembrance Day in [people’s] minds, so we don’t lose it altogether,” he said. “For the sake of the veterans that have gone before us, we keep coming back to it. These people gave up an awful lot for us, and we have to remember them – we have to give back.”
Plans for the Waverley Park ceremony are still under review by the city and health unit, Newman said.
On the city’s south side, organizers were similarly preparing for a smaller ceremony at city hall, in lieu of the usual public event at Fort William Gardens.
“We decided that the Gardens was a no-go, unfortunately,” said Ken Milenko, who chairs the committee behind that event. Still, he vowed, “we will continue on.”
Word would be sent to the public as plans for the city hall event developed, Milenko said, but he wasn’t optimistic about the prospect for the public to join in person.
“It’s one of those issues, you don’t want to have people crowding around,” he said.
Milenko mourned the lost opportunity to celebrate aging World War II veterans, in particular, but said the important thing was for people to keep the tradition alive in their own fashion.
“Above all, it would be really nice if it’s possible at your business or place of work, at 11 o’clock on the 11th, please stop and observe a couple minutes’ silence,” he urged residents.
The pandemic is also disrupting fundraising efforts that support local veterans.
Some businesses won’t allow poppy donation boxes inside, while others aren’t ready to welcome volunteers for Poppy Day on Nov. 7, when cadets normally accept donations outside local stores. Adult volunteers are set to fill in this year, with cadet groups foregoing the campaign.
Sharon Scott, who chairs the Branch 5 Legion’s poppy campaign, expressed confidence those activities could be carried out safely, but said she understood the urge for caution from some businesses.
“They’re looking after the health and wellbeing of their customers and staff,” she said. “I fully understand that, and I’ve got no problem following that.”
Still, she worried about the impact of potentially reduced donations from the campaign, which begins on Oct. 30.
“We feel the crunch, because that is the only way we can fundraise for the veterans,” she said.
Proceeds from poppy sales support local legions and services for local veterans. They’ve been donated to the regional hospital to purchase equipment benefitting veterans and the general public, for example.
Just as worrying was the prospect of veterans being isolated on Remembrance Day, she said.
“I’ve served 27 years,” she said. “This is going to be a hard day for me, not being able to be with my comrades and give them the support they’ve given us all these years.”
