Living On Three Continents: Remembering In Toronto
Susan Siddeley will be heading out next Thursday to a Remembrance Day service, ready to give thanks for a good education and the opportunities it has afforded while remembering the unlucky ones who gave their lives in wartime.
November is here again - that time of year in the Northern Hemisphere when the skies sag, fog sets in and I regret throwing out my cardigans.
Last November 11th was gloomy in downtown Toronto and suitably fine drizzle fell as a serious crowd gathered in front of Old City Hall at the corner of Queen and Bay for the Remembrance Day Service. Traffic stopped and people fell silent as muffled drums approached from the west, and squads of smartly uniformed, flag-bearing men and women representing groups rarely heard of, emerged from the grey mist.
Citizens stood still and solemn for over an hour as the service unfolded. Hundreds of scarlet poppies on their coats - once more with traditional black and not faddish green middles - winked like back car lights, providing the only spots of colour. Through the Alert, Regal Salute, Eleventh Hour Chimes and Last Post to the Two Minutes Silence, a hushed calm reigned. The impressive absence of shuffling, coughing and road-fixing jackhammers held through the Fly-Past, Reveille, Mayoral address and the softly sung hymns.
Peace prevailed as, in alphabetical order, representatives from many associations, legions, schools and Consulates stepped forward to lay wreaths. Only after the stiffly marching Colour Parties moved off, did Toronto’s multicultural citizens - immigrants and refugees from all over the globe - turn away, pull up their collars and return to business.
Heritage awareness is strong in Canada, a country highly-placed on the ‘World’s Best Places to Live’ list and people seem very conscious of the need to appreciation and understand things historical. Many Canadian soldiers died in last century’s wars, and Canada still has men serving in places like Afghanistan. World War I and II Vets are, inevitably a disappearing breed, so Veteran groups now they open their membership to volunteers.
Young people swinging along in the pipe bands, distributing leaflets detailing these groups’ ongoing activities, was as inspiring as listening to Alison Wong read in “Flanders Field” by John McCrae. As the girlish voice rang out, I recalled similar readings in the old school hall and wondered if similar observances were taking place before the sweeping wings of the war memorial in Huddersfield’s, Greenhead Park.
So, I’m readying a small umbrella and a thick scarf, ready to head out on Thursday, to stand and give thanks. To reflect that I am where I am - living on three continents - because of an excellent education and the opportunities it afforded in the decades following the Second World War….and to remember many were not so lucky.
