Hundreds of people attended Brantford’s annual Remembrance Day service at the Brant County War Memorial and Cenotaph on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.
At 10:40 a.m., members of the 56th Field Artillery Regiment, first responders, cadets and local dignitaries began marching behind the colour party and the Brantford Pipes and Drums as they made their way from Harmony Square to the Cenotaph.
As the service got underway, master of ceremonies, Ven. Jim Sutton, padre of Royal Canadian Legion Dunsdon Branch 461, led guests in the singing of O Canada before Petty Officer First Class Ari Henderson played the Last Post.
After the minute gun was fired and two minutes of silence was observed, Warrant Officer Jacob Russell performed the Lament on bagpipes, followed by Henderson’s playing of The Rouse.
Sergeant Adam Brown was then welcomed to the front to recite the Act of Remembrance and Adriel Harjo was later brought up to bestow an Indigenous blessing after the land acknowledgement.
During the event, Rick Denton, great-nephew to World War One veteran Philip Trafford Laborde (one of the 22 people most recently added to the war memorial), also had the chance to speak in honour of his great-uncle.
Next, Rev. Christine Hossack provided a prayer and reflection from the Gospel of John and Petty Officer Second Class Joshua Ocampo read the Commitment to Remember.
“They shall grow not old, as we that left grow old,” recited Ocampo. “Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.”
The Braemar House School primary choir then sang Brave Canadian Soldier before the wreath laying ceremony began.
Helen Zuidema and Richard Leary, Memorial Cross recipients, laid the official wreath in memory of both Trooper Larry Rudd and Capt. Richard Steven Leary, who lost their lives in Afghanistan.
Members of Veterans Affairs Canada, the 56th Field Artillery Regiment, local dignitaries, various legions and veterans associations, as well as representatives of the police, fire and paramedic services, all laid wreaths in honour of those who served in World War One, World War Two, Korea, Afghanistan, and the United Nations Peacekeepers.
After the Telephone City Musical Society Band and the Brant Men of Song teamed up for O God Our Help in Ages Past, Lexi Rose, a Grade 12 student from St. John’s College, approached the podium to speak.
“Today we stand here in recognition of the lives that were lost in many battles or changed forever by them. We do this so we never forget the sacrifices made by these brave soldiers and the challenges their families experienced and the gift they gave us as a country,” she said. “This day serves as a national reminder for us to honour those who gave their lives for our freedom and peace, paying the ultimate sacrifice. The word honour comes with great respect and recognizes someone’s courage, achievements or memory.”
Rose went on to say that while many residents grow up learning the history of Canada’s involvement in the war, many did not get the chance to learn about their own city’s contributions.
“Through research, I learned that the City of Brantford had more than 6,000 men and women join the armed forces during World War Two, that is more than three times the size of my high school. I couldn’t imagine my life without my friends, my teachers and my family, but these brave men and women left everything they cared for to fight for a war they did not start,” she continued. “The Cenotaph recognizes the brave soldiers from this area and all those who contributed to the war effort. Many people do not know that beyond fighting in the war, the people of this community also helped by supplying materials, such as parts for the aircraft and bombers; in Brantford, many of these were produced in the Massey-Harris factory.”
Rose said that to her, Remembrance Day is not just about thanking the people who fought, but appreciating the little things in life that we have today because of them.
“The things we take for granted such as a job, an education and a family – the things soldiers did not get to experience. People who surround us are a constant reminder of their purpose, and even though Remembrance Day is only once a year, we can still remember and be thankful for their sacrifice each day. As a student, Remembrance Day has given me and many others a chance to learn about its significance, the history of our country and the many ways our small town contributed to the freedom of our world.”
Scott Clare, of the 447 Wing of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association, then recited Major John McCrae’s “In Flanders Fields” before the service was concluded with the playing of God Save the King.
Brantford resident Virginia Hurley, whose son was part of the 2659 56th Field Regiment Royal Canadian Army Cadets for seven years, said she always attends the annual ceremony to pay her respects.
“Remembrance Day is very special to me. I had uncles, great uncles, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers, who all fought in the wars, and it’s just something you live up to. For me, Remembrance Day is every day, but this is a particularly special day when other people get together to mark the celebration; and it truly is a celebration of what they gave us,” she said. “My son was in the cadets for seven years and we were here every year. He did the vigils and all of that kind of stuff, and my great uncle’s name is on the Cenotaph so in a way, it’s pretty family oriented.”
Hurley added that to her, it didn’t matter that it was snowing out, not when those who served had to endure the rain and the cold during their time as well.
“I think I’ve only missed being here maybe one or two times because it’s just so important to me,” she said. “My son used to say, ‘it doesn’t matter what the weather is, because they dealt with the same thing.’ Those soldiers didn’t have a choice to just go home and get warm, so to me, it doesn’t matter that it’s wet and cold out here, I’m here to pay my respects.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
