Bob at the Etobicoke Civic Centre for Remembrance Day 2025

Marking 80 Years Since the End of the War in Europe

It was a cold, bright morning when Bob arrived at the Etobicoke Civic Centre for the Remembrance Day ceremony — the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. Fresh snow still lined the paths, and fallen leaves mixed with the frost, creating a solemn yet peaceful scene.

Bob had been to many ceremonies over the years, but this one felt especially significant. Eighty years — a milestone that reminds us how far we’ve come and how much we owe to those who served.

He watched as veterans took their places, medals glinting in the weak November sunlight. One veteran, standing proudly in her blue blazer, raised a crisp salute as a singer at the podium and sang O'Canada. Behind her, a piper in a red tartan kilt stood quietly, her breath visible in the cold air, preparing to play the haunting notes of the “Lament.”

Community leaders stepped forward to speak. Their words echoed through the crisp air — gratitude, remembrance, and a call to preserve peace for the next generations. The crowd stood silently, poppies pinned to their coats, as the bugle call of the “Last Post” sounded across the square. Even the city noise seemed to pause.

Bob took photographs of the cadets standing guard, motionless and composed, their heads bowed. He captured the moment where wreaths were laid — one after another — their purple ribbons and bright red poppies forming a sea of remembrance at the base of the cenotaph. 

He ended his morning photographing a single wreath against the snow. The poppies stood out sharply, their red petals vibrant against the white — a symbol of life and sacrifice that still speaks powerfully after eight decades. With the message “Lest We Forget.”

For Bob, these photos weren’t just documentation; they were quiet stories — of duty, loss, and the promise of never forgetting.

 

My Flickr album of today's photos.

Flickr Album