How to participate in Remembrance Day 2020 when events are canceled
Every year we participate in ceremonies for Remembrance Day, but this year’s events are being canceled due to COVID-19. While traditions may be thrown off this year, there are many ways to recognize the holiday while social distancing. Keep reading below to learn more about canceled local events near Edmonton and how to participate in Remembrance Day 2020 when events are canceled.
What Remembrance Day 2020 events are canceled?
Many national and regional ceremonies will be canceled this year, as well as traditions that normally take place in Edmonton, AB. As far as national events go, there are some marked changes to the traditional ceremonies in Ottawa, where as many as 30,000 Canadians gather every year on Remembrance Day. This year, the annual parade is being canceled, and people are asked not to gather at the war memorial.
Locally, the Edmonton area has some event cancelations and down-sizing as well. If you normally attend one of these events, you may want to make other plans. Events that have been impacted include the following:
- The annual City Hall Remembrance Day event will be outdoors and will not invite the public. It will be streamed online for those who wish to participate.
- The annual Beverly Memorial Cenotaph ceremony is by invite only and will be limited to 100 guests.
- The city’s largest annual event, which was supposed to take place at the Butterdome where five local legions were set to gather, has been canceled for 2020.
Things to do on Remembrance Day 2020 near Edmonton, AB
If you normally participate in a Remembrance Day ceremony every year, this year’s cancelations may have impacted a tradition that you were looking forward to. We can understand your disappointment, but there are plenty of ways to participate in the holiday this year. One of the main ways this year is to watch one of the ceremonies on TV or online.
The Beverly Memorial Cenotaph ceremony is hoping to have a fly-by from One Wing Command. If you are in the area, you might even be able to watch the planes yourself. You can also still visit cemeteries while practicing social distancing.
Of course, there are some traditions that won’t be impacted in 2020. Everyone is still encouraged to wear poppies leading up to Remembrance Day, and some local events may still be going on with new public safety measures in place. At 11:00 AM on November 11, 2020, two minutes of silence will be observed by many of us for those lost in serving Canada.
