Melanie Valente-Leite, News Reporter
Humber joined the millions of people across the globe united to commemorate the fallen soldiers and honoured those who fought for Canada’s freedom.
Amongst them Matt Smith, a Humber student studying music, paid his tribute to veterans by playing his trumpet for the Last Post.
“I’m honoured to be playing at this ceremony. To me Remembrance Day means a moment a day or even potentially every day to remember the veterans that risked their lives for us,” said Smith, a four-year music student.
Around the world, different names are used for Remembrance Day, such as Armistice Day or Veterans Day, but no matter what the name is, everyone knows Nov. 11 as the end of a long, devastating war that brought victory and joy to millions across the world.
More than two million Canadians served in the First World War and nearly 120,000 people made the ultimate sacrifice by losing their lives to protect their country.
And 101 years later and Humber continues to honour the veterans that went to war to protect Canada’s everlasting legacy of sacrifice and bravery.
“Their sacrifice is what preserves our liberty, our security and prosperity. Folks, and I, and all Canadians should bow down and thank these veterans for the wonderful sacrifice and patriotism they gave us,” said Roopnarine Singh, heart specialist and the founder of the Canada Day parade in Montreal, who attended the ceremony at Humber’s North Campus.
The vibrant red colour of poppies, that symbolizes the blood that shed during battle, was seen laid upon the heart across campus.
Ian Crookshank, the Dean of Students at Humber, led the ceremony with a speech on what Nov. 11 means to him.
“I think beyond on what Remembrance Day means. It is an opportunity to think about what it means to be Canadian,” Crookshank said. “What it means to live in a time of relative peace. And we’ve been fortunate and privileged enough to do so. And I think sort of reflecting on what it has meant to me over my lifetime.”
Every year, people continue to salute those who served — and continue to serve — to protect their country.
And every year, those who paid for Canada’s freedom with their lives are remembered.