COQUITLAM, B.C., November 1, 2023 – Coquitlam highlights the availability of free parking for veterans and encourages residents to join the City in honouring veterans in meaningful ways this Remembrance Day, including poppy painting and messages of remembrance.
Remembrance Day Services on November 11
Coquitlam’s traditional Remembrance Day ceremony and parade, hosted by the Coquitlam Royal Canadian Legion Branch 263, will be held on November 11 at 11 a.m. and anyone wishing to pay their respects is welcome. The parade will begin at Como Lake Middle School (1121 King Albert Avenue) at approximately 10:15 a.m. and will continue with a ceremony at the Blue Mountain Park Cenotaph (975 King Albert Street) starting at approximately 10:30 a.m.
Other Ways to Honour Veterans in Meaningful Ways
In recognition of the achievements and sacrifices of those who have served our nation in times of war and military conflict, Coquitlam residents are encouraged to show their respect for veterans in a variety of ways this year:
- Poppy Painting and Messages of Remembrance along Veteran's Way: Stop by Blue Mountain Park (975 King Albert Avenue) to paint a large poppy on the grass along Veteran’s Way as part of a temporary display. While you are there, write a message of remembrance and tie it to a tree with yellow ribbon. The messages are kept on the trees until November 18 at which point they will be transcribed and forwarded to Canadian veteran groups.
Participation takes place daily from Sunday, November 5 until Thursday, November 9 from 12 – 4:30 p.m.
- Poppy Painting at Spirit Square: Join us at Spirit Square on Burlington Drive, across the street from Coquitlam City Hall, on Thursday, November 9 from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. to add your painted poppy to the temporary outdoor display.
To learn more, please visit coquitlam.ca/remember.
Veteran Experiences – Indigenous and Racialized Communities
November 8 is National Indigenous Veterans Day in Canada and honours the many First Nations, Inuit and Métis soldiers, and their contributions and sacrifices to military service.
Many Indigenous Peoples and racialized people proudly served in uniform despite facing discrimination and racism. During the First World War, more than 4,000 Indigenous soldiers served in uniform and in the Second World War more than 3,000 First Nations members, as well as an unknown number of Métis, Inuit and other Indigenous recruits, served. The call for military service was answered once more during the Korean War (1950-53).
First commemorated in 1994, National Indigenous Veterans Day invites Canadians to better understand the role Indigenous veterans have played in Canadian history and honour their sacrifices.
To learn more, visit veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/people-and-stories/indigenous-veterans.
Other racialized groups also played integral roles prior to and during the First and Second World Wars. To learn more about these often unheard military stories, visit veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/people-and-stories.
City Honours Veterans Throughout the Year
The City commemorates the lives of fallen Coquitlam soldiers on rolls of honour permanently on display on the second floor of City Hall, and at the cenotaph at Blue Mountain Park.
Coquitlam also continues to provide free parking in City lots and street parking spaces for vehicles displaying a veteran’s licence plate, a tradition started in 2006. For information, visit the Parking Regulations section at coquitlam.ca/parking.
Other Opportunities to Mark Remembrance Day
Register for other Remembrance Day events and activities including:
- Glen Pine Pavilion – Remembrance Day Historical Presentations: Choose from two different historical presentations on Tuesday, November 7. Join Royal Canadian Legion battlefield guide and historian John Goheen to discuss how we remember veterans in meaningful ways. Registration is required for these free events. For more information or to register, search Course ID 133279 and 139934 at coquitlam.ca/registration.
- Dogwood Pavilion – Remembrance Day Concert: Join the Vancouver Naval Veterans Band to recognize Remembrance Day on Wednesday, November 8 from 1 – 3 p.m., as they perform musical favourites from years past. Registration includes light refreshments. For more information or to register, search Course ID 128455 at coquitlam.ca/registration.
- Dogwood Pavilion – Remembrance Day Tea: On Saturday, November 11 from 1 – 2:30 p.m., join staff for an afternoon tea to recognize Remembrance Day. There will be live entertainment by long-time performer Michelle Carlisle and opportunities between songs for those wanting to share poems and stories. For more information or to register, search Course ID 130912 at coquitlam.ca/registration.
For more information, visit coquitlam.ca/RemembranceDay.
Media contact:
Kathleen Reinheimer
Manager Parks
604-927-3533
KReinheimer@coquitlam.ca
We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-kwuh-tlum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee), and other Coast Salish Peoples.