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Remembrance Day ceremonies and events in your community

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There are numerous ways to pay your respects to Canada's veterans and war dead this Remembrance Day (Nov. 11) in Surrey, Delta, and White Rock.

Surrey

Bring your family to take part in the annual Remembrance Day ceremony at the Cloverdale Cenotaph next door to the Surrey Museum and Archives (17710 56A Ave.)

After the service Surrey residents are invited in from the cold to take part in several activities at the museum:

• Children can make “peaceful crafts” such as tissue paper poppies and harmony doves, or write thank you post cards that will be delivered to Lower Mainland veterans and their families.

• Families can view Second World War documentary videos in the museum’s theatre.

• Enjoy a warm beverage while viewing Remembrance Day projects from a Grade Two Cloverdale Traditional School class.

• From noon to 1 p.m. join local author Sylvia Crooks for a visual presentation on BC’s Home Front. Explore how World War I and II affected life in small town British Columbia. Admission by donation. Pre-register at 604-592-6956 as space is limited.

At the Surrey Archives

•  Warm up with refreshments downstairs, then come up to the Reference Room to view real wartime newspapers, documents, photographs.

•  View the exhibit “Duty, Honour & Izzat”, on display from Nov. 4-15.

•  Watch a slideshow on Surrey’s participation in the World Wars, and listen to reminiscences with the Veterans’ Oral History Collection.

Delta

Delta will recognize Remembrance Day with official ceremonies in both South and North Delta.

The Royal Canadian Legion Delta Branch 61 is organizing Ladner's parade and ceremony. It starts outside the Legion at 4896 Delta St. at 10:15 a.m. and travels to the Cenotaph at Memorial Park for a 10:45 a.m. ceremony.

The Kennedy House Seniors' Society will host North Delta's ceremony and reception at 10:40 a.m. at the North Delta Social Heart Plaza (11415 84 Ave.), followed by a reception at the North Delta Recreation Centre.

White Rock

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 8 will host the 2014 Remembrance Day Ceremony:

• 9:30 a.m. - Parade begins from Johnston & Roper. Travels south on Johnston to Pacific, towards Fir St.  North on Fir St to Buena Vista, concluding at First United Church.

• 10:15 a.m. -  Church service at First United Church 15385 Semiahmoo Ave.

• 11:00 a.m. - Wreath laying ceremony at White Rock City Hall Cenotaph

Please note there will be limited access to streets surrounding White Rock Elementary during the Remembrance Day parade between 9:15 and 10:15 a.m.

The White Rock Museum and Archives is also hosting an exhibit honouring White Rock and its residents entitled Lest We Forget: White Rock During the War Years, open from Nov. 8-17 at 14970 Marine Dr.

Remembrance Day commemorates Canadians who died in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War. It is held every Nov. 11.

The first Remembrance Day was conducted in 1919 throughout the Commonwealth. Originally called Armistice Day, it commemorated the end of the First World War on Monday, Nov. 11, 1918 at 11 a.m., the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

From 1923 to 1931, Armistice Day was held on the Monday of the week in which Nov. 11 fell. Thanksgiving was also celebrated on this day.

In 1931, MP Allan Neill introduced a bill to hold Armistice Day on a fixed day, Nov. 11. During the bill's introduction, it was decided the word "Remembrance" would be used instead of "Armistice". The bill passed and Remembrance Day was conducted on Nov. 11, 1931. Thanksgiving Day was moved to October 12 that year.

The poppy is the symbol of Remembrance Day. Replica poppies are sold by the Royal Canadian Legion to raise money for needy veterans.