Canada remembers ‘heroic service’ of war dead, veterans across country

by Kyle Duggan

OTTAWA — Canadians are pausing today to remember the military members who put their lives on the line to serve their country as Remembrance Day ceremonies get underway countrywide.

This Remembrance Day marks eight decades since the conclusion of the Second World War and 25 years since the entombment of Canada’s Unknown Soldier, a First World War combatant who remains unidentified.

Read more:

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa honours the more than 118,000 Canadians who sacrificed their lives in service to their country.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said today honours the heroism of those who “sacrificed years away from loved ones,” those who returned from combat forever changed, and those who never came back at all.

Family members of the war dead have staked out spots hours in advance in the nation’s capital, braving chilly weather to get a good view of the ceremony at the National War Memorial.

Brian Revet travelled from Saskatoon and arrived at 8 a.m. so that he can witness up close a ceremony he has watched on television since he was a teenager.

He said he lost an uncle in the Second World War, who served as an aircraft gunner.

In a rare turn of events, Chief Justice Richard Wagner will preside over the ceremony in place of Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, who is recovering from a respiratory virus in hospital.

Veterans Affairs Canada estimates that, as of this year, there are 3,691 surviving Canadian veterans of the Second World War — 667 women and 3,024 men. It provided these estimates of veterans based on the 2021 census:

First World War (1914-1918)

650,000: The number of Canadians and Newfoundlanders who served.
66,000: The number of Canadian service members who died during the conflict.
172,000: The number of Canadian service members who were wounded.
0: The number of surviving Canadian First World War veterans.

Second World War (1939-1945)

1.1 million: The number of Canadians and Newfoundlanders who served during the conflict.
45,000: The number of Canadian service members who died during the conflict.
3,691: The number of Canadian Second World War veterans still alive in 2025.
3,024: The number of surviving veterans who are men.
667: The number who are women.

Korean War (1950-1953)