GORE BAY—This year’s Remembrance Day ceremony in Gore Bay was significant in that it marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, but also the local partnerships in working towards giving the downtown cenotaph a refresh and the placement of veterans’ banners throughout the community.
After the parade march made up of veterans, Legion members and members of the Gore Bay Volunteer Fire Department and members of the Manitoulin Sea Cadets, the ringing of church bells could be heard as the large crowd on hand for the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #514 ceremony took place at the cenotaph in downtown Gore Bay.
“Good morning, everyone and welcome,” said Comrade Michael Lalonde. “As we gather here at Gore Bay’s newly refreshed cenotaph, we come together in a place that reflects both remembrance and respect.”
“This site, renewed with care earlier this year with support from Veterans Affairs Canada, stands as a symbol of gratitude from our community to all who served,” said Comrade Lalonde. “Its improvements help us honour the past with dignity, while offering a setting where future generations can continue to reflect and remember.”
“This year’s Remembrance Day carries special significance,” continued Comrade Lalonde. “In 2025, we mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, a milestone that reminds us of the extraordinary courage shown by those who stepped forward in service, and the deep sacrifices made by families and communities across our country.”
“Eight decades later, as the number of living veterans from that era grows smaller, we are reminded of our responsibility to uphold their stories and carry their legacy forward with care,” continued Comrade Lalonde.
“Here in Gore Bay, remembrance is personal,” Comrade Lalonde said. “The faces and names displayed throughout our downtown represent the men and women from this very community, individuals who served with honour, who left home, who answered a call larger than themselves.”
“The banners we see are not decorations; they are reminders. They help us recognize the legacy of those who lived here, worked here, raised families here, and whose service shaped both our past and the freedoms we cherish today,” said Comrade Lalonde.
