With the COVID-19 pandemic picking up steam during the fall, local Remembrance Day ceremonies in the Battlefords will be noticeably scaled back.
It has been confirmed both Royal Canadian Legion Branch #70 in North Battleford and Branch #9 in Battleford are not hosting public Remembrance Day services this year.
Branch #70 has stated that it will instead be hosting a “virtual” ceremony at the branch. The branch issued a news release stating as follows:
“Branch 70 North Battleford Royal Canadian Legion wishes to advise the public, due to COVID 19 restrictions, we will NOT be holding Community Remembrance Day Service.
“A virtual Remembrance Day Ceremony will be broadcast on Wednesday, November 11, 2020 at 10:55 on CJNB or you can stream online.”
There are plans to lay the wreaths at the cenotaph following that ceremony. Branch #70 is also planning a flag raising at City Hall Nov. 2.
Branch #9 in Battleford is also scaling back in 2020 due to the pandemic. At town council earlier this month, Mayor Ames Leslie said he had been in contact with Tim Popp, who confirmed to him there will be no public ceremonies hosted by the Legion. Instead, there will be “hybrid” ones for smaller groups of Legion members that will proceed.
“Unfortunate news, but it is to be expected in the new COVID(-19) 2020,” said Leslie.
Coun. Gordon Yarde noted Gold Eagle Casino would also likely not be hosting its Remembrance Day ceremonies honouring Indigenous veterans this year, but it was not clear what they would be doing in its place.
Saskatchewan Hospital has also confirmed they, too, will not be holding a ceremony this year due to COVID-19. They will be laying wreaths at their cenotaph prior to Nov. 11, but that will be the extent of it.
Other efforts to honor the veterans are continuing on. The Fred Light Museum is again putting up Honor a Vet banners, a program that is being expanded this year. There are banners up in Battleford and North Battleford; in addition to the new banners, last year’s banners are also up.
UPDATE: Royal Canadian Legion Branch #9 confirms there is no public service this year, however the service will be filmed and uploaded on their Facebook page. As well, they held their Poppy Day Tea and Bake Sale Nov. 7 at the legion.
Also, Gold Eagle Casino has confirmed their Remembrance Day ceremonies are not going ahead this year.
