Small Remembrance Day ceremony held at the renovated Saskatoon Cenotaph – Saskatoon | The Canadian News

The annual Remembrance Day ceremony at SaskTel Center was canceled this year and instead installed a tour display.

Members of the Downtown Saskatoon Canadian Progress Club decided to organize his own ceremony outside the City Hall, in front of the cenotaph, which was refurbished this year.

A few dozen people gathered to remember.

A service organizer and progress club member, Brent Marjerison, wanted to reflect on his father’s day and time as a member of the Royal Canadian Navy.

During the opening remarks, Marjerison said: “I still wanted to get a crown on behalf of our club and do something on a very special day of reflection.”

Read the poem, In the fields of Flanders, followed by two minutes of silence and the playback of The last message.

At the center of the ceremony was the recently remodeled granite cenotaph.

Built in 1929, it was located at the intersection of 21 St. and 2nd Ave. before finding a new home at City Hall in 1957.

Earlier this year, the city of Saskatoon realized that it needed some work.

They noticed problems such as falling steps, sliding tiles, and soil erosion around the monument.

The $ 155,000 renovation was funded by a federal grant and Canadian Veterans Affairs.

For those in attendance, it all added up to a meaningful ceremony.

Retired Canadian Army Sgt. Richard Leblanc said he went to the ceremony to show others on duty that they are not alone.

“To show our respect to those who have gone before us, but also to show the brotherhood of those who are still in service or are more recent veterans,” Leblanc said.

Attendees added poppies to the monument throughout the ceremony.