Crowds gathered around the cenotaph in downtown Ottawa to remember and honour those who have served in Canada’s military through war and peace keeping.
The snow-kissed ground around the National War Memorial welcomed veterans, military personnel, Prime Minister Mark Carney, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan and Chief Justice Richard Wagner.
Gov. Gen. Mary Simon was unable to attend the ceremony, as she was recovering from a respiratory virus.
Sounds of canon fire rang through the streets as wreaths were placed in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and at the base of the National War Memorial monument.
Following “The Last Post,” Ottawa fell quiet for two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. in honour of those who died in the line of service.
A large crowd quickly amassed around the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier after the ceremony as people unpinned their poppies and gently placed them on top of the granite sarcophagus.
The service concluded just as the sun peaked above the parting clouds.
Featured image by Simon McKeown/the Charlatan
