U of T commemorates Remembrance Day this year
The University of Toronto’s three campuses host ceremonies to honour Canada’s fallen veterans.
On November 11, amidst cool temperatures and sharp winds, University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) faculty, staff, and students gathered at the Davis Building’s south entrance to partake in the campus’ annual Remembrance Day ceremony.
The event was led by the Vice-President of the University of Toronto (U of T) and UTM Principal Alexandra Gillespie, who started the ceremony with a land acknowledgement, which was followed by the playing of the Canadian anthem. Gillespie shared her own perspective of war through the plays of the esteemed Greek tragedian Sophocles and spoke on current conflicts occurring over the world.
Wreaths were placed at the base of the flagpole by Gillespie, UTM Student Union Vice President of Equity Philip Anyang, and Richard Waters, a representative of United Steelworkers Local 1998. At 11 a.m., the Canadian flag was lowered, and attendees observed a two-minute silent reflection. As the ceremony neared its conclusion, organizers played the Last Post, followed by the raising of the Canadian flag to half-mast.
Earlier on October 8, the UTM Indigenous Centre hosted a poppy-beading workshop in the Maanjiwe Nendamowinan building. On November 11, the Historical Studies Society ran a Remembrance Day poppy-making event in the atrium of the Instructional building, where students made their own poppy to honour fallen veterans.
At U of T’s St. George campus, this year’s ceremony marked the 100th anniversary of the 44-metre-tall Soldiers’ Tower, which houses a 51-bell Carillion and was built to honour soldiers and U of T community members who passed during the First World War. The monument was subsequently expanded to include the names of 1,185 individuals who perished during both World I and II. Today, the annual Service of Remembrance takes place at the foot of the tower and honours those who served in both world wars and other conflicts.
This year, the St. George service included carillon recitals during the ceremony and was attended by students, faculty, staff, alumni, veterans, and local and federal government representatives, who honoured Canada’s war contributions through poems, historical vignettes, and the retelling of the history of the Soldiers’ Tower.
The event saw the placing of wreaths by U of T President Meric Gertler, Vice President and Provost Trevor Young, Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland and Chair of U of T’s Governing Council, Anna Kennedy. President of the U of T Alumni Association, Corwin Cambray, presented a plaque commemorating the anniversary of the Tower.
The ceremony was followed by a public reception in the Great Hall of Hart House and the opening of the Memorial Room in Soldier’s Tower.
At the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC), faculty, staff, and students participated in a ceremony which featured the UTSC Concert Band and Choir and String Orchestra. U of T Scarborough Principal Linda Johnston and Vice-Principal academic and dean Karin Ruhlandt were present at the ceremony.
News Editor (Volume 51); Associate News Editor (Volume 50) — Samuel is a second-year student at UTM studying Politics and English. He previously worked with The Medium as an Associate News Editor and currently serves as the publication’s News Editor. Samuel is passionate about employing the power of writing to enhance our student community and hopes to help nurture a bright future for The Medium this year. In his spare time, Samuel can be found working out, creating music on the piano and drums, or exploring nature.