COVID-19 altering Remembrance Day celebrations across Ottawa
Posted Nov 4, 2020 02:40:00 PM.
Like many events in 2020, Remembrance Day is also going to look different in Ottawa due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The Royal Canadian Legion is, for the first time ever, discouraging spectators from attending the ceremony at the National War Memorial downtown. In order to limit the risk of spreading COVID-19, the event will be broadcast live on Facebook, starting around 10:45 a.m., on November 11.
The City of Ottawa is, however, still restricting road and pedestrian access around the National War Memorial before and during the ceremony to ensure physical distancing for anyone who does show up.
The legion says here will be no veteran's parade or Canadian Armed Forces parade this year.
A full list of changes to the national Remembrance Day ceremony can be found here.
The annual Candlelight Tribute at the Canadian War Museum, which kick's off Veterans' Week on Thursday, November 5, has been cancelled. Instead, the Royal Canadian Legion plans to broadcast a live National Remembrance Day ceremony on Wednesday, November 11. Residents are encouraged to pay their respects from home.
OC Transpo and STO will also be contributing to Veterans' Week by offering veterans and their companions the chance to ride for free. Veterans are being asked to wear their medals or uniforms to ride for free between November 5 and November 11.
On Remembrance Day, all riders will be able to use public transit free of charge. Masks or other face coverings are mandatory, and OC Transpo is reminding all customers not to use public transit if they're experiencing COVID-related symptoms.
From Nov. 5 – 11, to mark National Veterans' Week, veterans wearing their medals or uniforms can ride at no charge on buses, O-Train, Para Transpo, and STO services. https://t.co/lfgzS9IXRW pic.twitter.com/RNCAIfW5w4
— OC Transpo (@OC_Transpo) November 3, 2020
Drivers may also see OC Transpo buses pulled over across the city around 11 a.m. on Remembrance Day. This is to observe two minutes of silence in honour of Canadian veterans. Line 1 trains will do the same by stopping at the nearest station.
The Poppy Flag will be flown at Ottawa City Hall and other city facilities, starting on Thursday, November 5. The flags will be lowered to half-mast from sunrise to sunset on Remembrance Day in honour of all Canadians who have served their country in times of war.
