Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 14 hours ago
2025 Remembrance Day Ceremony at Old City Hall Cenotaph
The City of Toronto honouring the courage, sacrifice and service of Canada’s fallen heroes.
Program
Procession/March On
Kelly Jackson, City of Toronto Honour Guard, Parade Marshal
Welcome
Aretha Phillip, Chief of Protocol, City of Toronto
National Anthem: O Canada
Elmer Isler Singers under the direction of Lydia Adams and the 7th Regimental Band, Royal Canadian Artillery Band, under the direction of Captain Carina Lam.
O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all of us command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
Bugler: “The Last Post”
Bombardier Justin Couto, 7th Regimental Band, and the Royal Canadian Artillery Band.
Two Minutes of Silence
Piper: “Lament”
Pipe Major (Warrant Officer) Alex Brown, 48th Highlanders of Canada
Bugler: “The Rouse”
Act of Remembrance
Mike Turner, District Poppy Chair, Royal Canadian Legion
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Response by all: We will remember them.
Commitment to Remember
Read in English and French: Kowmitha Satkunarajan, Executive Director, Toronto Youth Cabinet
They were young, as we are young,
They served, giving freely of themselves.
To them, we pledge, amid the winds of time,
To carry their torch and never forget.
We will remember them.
Response by all: We will remember them.
Remarks from the City of Toronto
Her Worship Mayor Olivia Chow
In Flanders Fields by John McCrae
Special musical arrangement by Lydia Adams, Elmer Isler Singers
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Remarks from Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor or Ontario
The Honourable Edith Dumont
Presentation of Wreaths
Final Wreath in honour of 80 Years since the End of the Second World War
Jack Boeki, Warrant Officer (Retired), Toronto resident and Veteran of the Second World War
Poem: To Our Immortal Dead by S. Morgan-Powell
Sergeant Garren Doerksen, 618 Queen’s City Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron
They died that we might live.
They fought their fight
And passed-beyond all sorrow and all pain.
But Love shall keep their memories ever bright.
Above the graves where their dead selves have lain
Flowers shall grow and greet the noonday sun
In bloom of beauty.
Our Immortal Dead,
So free in sacrifice, shall every one,
With nature blending, at the Dayspring’s head
Gather at last, and know the gift they gave
Was not in vain – that Freedom lifts her voice
Triumphant, as a tribute to the brave
Who died that she might live.
They shall rejoice,
Knowing the loved ones whom they left behind,
Safe in the heritage they fought to hold
For Canada. And in our hearts enshrined
Their names shall live, their glorious tale be told,
So long as this Dominion guards the Right.
Their arms upheld in that unequalled fight.
Benediction
Lieutenant (N) (Andrew) Kun Young Lee, Chaplain, HMCS York
Royal Anthem: “God Save The King”
God Save our Gracious King
Long live our noble King
God Save The King
Send him victorious
Happy and glorious
Long to reign over us
God Save The King
Dismissal/March Off
Public Can Lay Wreaths or Poppies
Acknowledgments
Thank you to the following organizations and individuals, in addition to those listed above, for contributing to the ceremony:
246 Canadian Progress Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron
48th Highlanders of Canada
618 Queen City Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron
City of Toronto Administrative, Professional, Supervisory Association (COTAPSA)
City of Toronto Honour Guard
Commissionaires Great Lakes
Knights of Columbus/Cardinal McGuigan Assembly 0865
Naval Club of Toronto
Royal Canadian Legion
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Vanguard
Toronto Fire Services Honour Guard
Toronto Fire Services War Veterans Association Colour Guard
Toronto Paramedic Services Ceremonial Guard
Toronto Police Services
Toronto Transit Commission Honour Guard
Thank you to Metrolinx, for their support of the ceremony and the commemorative banners along the construction hoarding.
2025 Remembrance Day Ceremony at Old City Hall Cenotaph
The City of Toronto honouring the courage, sacrifice and service of Canada’s fallen heroes.
Program
Procession/March On
Kelly Jackson, City of Toronto Honour Guard, Parade Marshal
Welcome
Aretha Phillip, Chief of Protocol, City of Toronto
National Anthem: O Canada
Elmer Isler Singers under the direction of Lydia Adams and the 7th Regimental Band, Royal Canadian Artillery Band, under the direction of Captain Carina Lam.
O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all of us command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
Bugler: “The Last Post”
Bombardier Justin Couto, 7th Regimental Band, and the Royal Canadian Artillery Band.
Two Minutes of Silence
Piper: “Lament”
Pipe Major (Warrant Officer) Alex Brown, 48th Highlanders of Canada
Bugler: “The Rouse”
Act of Remembrance
Mike Turner, District Poppy Chair, Royal Canadian Legion
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Response by all: We will remember them.
Commitment to Remember
Read in English and French: Kowmitha Satkunarajan, Executive Director, Toronto Youth Cabinet
They were young, as we are young,
They served, giving freely of themselves.
To them, we pledge, amid the winds of time,
To carry their torch and never forget.
We will remember them.
Response by all: We will remember them.
Remarks from the City of Toronto
Her Worship Mayor Olivia Chow
In Flanders Fields by John McCrae
Special musical arrangement by Lydia Adams, Elmer Isler Singers
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Remarks from Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor or Ontario
The Honourable Edith Dumont
Presentation of Wreaths
Final Wreath in honour of 80 Years since the End of the Second World War
Jack Boeki, Warrant Officer (Retired), Toronto resident and Veteran of the Second World War
Poem: To Our Immortal Dead by S. Morgan-Powell
Sergeant Garren Doerksen, 618 Queen’s City Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron
They died that we might live.
They fought their fight
And passed-beyond all sorrow and all pain.
But Love shall keep their memories ever bright.
Above the graves where their dead selves have lain
Flowers shall grow and greet the noonday sun
In bloom of beauty.
Our Immortal Dead,
So free in sacrifice, shall every one,
With nature blending, at the Dayspring’s head
Gather at last, and know the gift they gave
Was not in vain – that Freedom lifts her voice
Triumphant, as a tribute to the brave
Who died that she might live.
They shall rejoice,
Knowing the loved ones whom they left behind,
Safe in the heritage they fought to hold
For Canada. And in our hearts enshrined
Their names shall live, their glorious tale be told,
So long as this Dominion guards the Right.
Their arms upheld in that unequalled fight.
Benediction
Lieutenant (N) (Andrew) Kun Young Lee, Chaplain, HMCS York
Royal Anthem: “God Save The King”
God Save our Gracious King
Long live our noble King
God Save The King
Send him victorious
Happy and glorious
Long to reign over us
God Save The King
Dismissal/March Off
Public Can Lay Wreaths or Poppies
Acknowledgments
Thank you to the following organizations and individuals, in addition to those listed above, for contributing to the ceremony:
246 Canadian Progress Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron
48th Highlanders of Canada
618 Queen City Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron
City of Toronto Administrative, Professional, Supervisory Association (COTAPSA)
City of Toronto Honour Guard
Commissionaires Great Lakes
Knights of Columbus/Cardinal McGuigan Assembly 0865
Naval Club of Toronto
Royal Canadian Legion
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Vanguard
Toronto Fire Services Honour Guard
Toronto Fire Services War Veterans Association Colour Guard
Toronto Paramedic Services Ceremonial Guard
Toronto Police Services
Toronto Transit Commission Honour Guard
Thank you to Metrolinx, for their support of the ceremony and the commemorative banners along the construction hoarding.
