Toronto marks Veterans' Week with poppy-lit City Hall sign as Royal Canadian Legion turns 100

The City of Toronto is observing Veterans' Week from November 5 to 11, honouring those who have served in the Canadian military. This year carries extra significance: the Royal Canadian Legion is marking its 100th anniversary, and the TORONTO sign at Nathan Phillips Square has been lit with a poppy, glowing red for the occasion.

What is happening through the week

The 'Toronto Remembers' exhibit, presented with Metrolinx, is on display through the week, with panels tracing military and peacekeeping milestones woven through Toronto's history, in the City Hall Rotunda and along the construction fencing at Queen Street West and Bay Street. On November 8, Indigenous Veterans Day, a ceremony takes place at 2 p.m. in the Spirit Garden at Nathan Phillips Square, including a Sacred Fire led by Young Spiritual Elder Noodjmowin and a Sharing Circle; Mayor Olivia Chow will formally proclaim November 8 as Indigenous Veterans Day, and the TORONTO sign will be lit in the four colours of the Medicine Wheel — red, white, yellow and black.

Remembrance Day ceremonies and travel

On Remembrance Day, November 11, ceremonies begin at 10:45 a.m. at locations across the city, including the Old City Hall Cenotaph and the Scarborough War Memorial; the Old City Hall ceremony will be streamed live on the City's YouTube channel and its Remembrance Day Ceremonies webpage. Road closures and transit diversions will be in effect around Old City Hall: Bay Street will be closed from Albert Street to Richmond Street West, and Queen Street West from Bay Street to east of York Street, with the public advised to approach from the west via Osgoode Station on Line 1. The TTC will pause all vehicles for two minutes at 11 a.m. on November 11, where operationally feasible. The Toronto Zoo is also offering complimentary admission and parking for Legion members, veterans and serving Canadian Armed Forces members from November 8 to 13, and holds its 41st Remembrance Day ceremony at 9:45 a.m. on November 11.

Mayor urges residents to take part

Mayor Olivia Chow said: "During Veterans' Week, Torontonians honor the courage, sacrifice, and service of those who have served our country. This year, we recognize a century of dedication to supporting veterans and making sure the legacies of those who served are never forgotten by commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion. I encourage all Torontonians to reflect on the sacrifices made in service to our country by attending a ceremony, observing a moment of silence, wearing a poppy, or sharing a message of gratitude." (Photo is a file image: the poppy on the TORONTO sign at Nathan Phillips Square in a previous year. Source: TO Times.)