Each year on November 11, we pause to honour the courage, sacrifice and service of those who have defended our freedoms in times of war, conflict and peace. Their legacy lives on not only in history books and ceremonies, but in the hearts of our community.

What makes this day powerful is not just the silence at 11 a.m., but the voices that rise afterward – stories shared between generations, lessons passed from veterans to youth and the renewed commitment to peace and understanding.

This shared reflection continues as we gather as a community to honour the past and look ahead to the future we are shaping together. One such moment is the annual Remembrance Day Parade and Ceremony taking place on Sunday, November 9. Organized by the Richmond Hill Legion - Branch 375, the parade begins at 10:30 a.m. at the northwest corner of Yonge and Wright Streets and heads south on Yonge Street to the Richmond Hill Cenotaph, where we will stand together in tribute, remembering those who served and reaffirming our commitment to the values they upheld.

We will also be lowering our flags to half-mast for Remembrance Day at all Richmond Hill facilities.

Let us honour our veterans not only in memory, but through action by living the values they fought for: respect, unity and service. Let us help the next generation understand what it means to remember and encourage them to carry those values forward in everyday life.

On behalf of our Richmond Hill community, I thank all who have served and continue to serve. Your service continues to guide the values we uphold and the future we build together.

Lest we forget.

Mayor David West
City of Richmond Hill