CANMORE – In the leadup to Remembrance Day, the Canmore Legion recognized and added to its existing cenotaph.
In a 30-minute ceremony at the legion, a crowd of roughly 50 people took part in the rededication that added mention of Canadian veterans’ involvement in the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War, the 2001-14 Afghanistan War and NATO peace missions to the existing cenotaph.
“This memorial will serve as a permanent reminder of the brave men and women from our community who defended our values on foreign soil,” said Joanna McCallum, a volunteer at the Canmore Legion.
McCallum, a long-serving Canmore councillor, noted it was a “cohort of serving members who have been overlooked in recent military history.”
For the past five years, a wooden handcrafted recognition of the Afghanistan War has been next to the legion’s cenotaph.
Legion District Commander Karen Bruens said it wasn’t only to “refresh its stone and mortar, but to extend its solemn purpose.”
She said it was important to include a new generation of Canadian veterans to the existing cenotaph.
“These modern missions may seem far removed from the trenches of the western front or the beaches of Normandy, but the core values that drove Canadians to serve remain unchanged dedication to peace, commitment to justice and willingness to stand alongside our allies in defence of these principles,” she said.
Pastor Betty Piwowar said it wasn’t enough to remember, but a “day of dedication these dead have not died in vain.”
The Canadian Armed Forces had more than 5,100 personnel deployed for the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War.
Canada was one of the 12 founding members of NATO in 1949. During the Cold War, Canada consistently had a brigade of roughly 5,000 soldiers stationed in Germany until 1993.
They took part in dozens of NATO-led missions such as Afghanistan, Libya and a regular presence in the former Yugoslavia in nations such as Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia.
According to the Canadian Armed Forces, there are currently just under 2,000 personnel deployed in Latvia and Kosovo on NATO missions.
The Afghanistan War had more than 40,000 Canadians overseas, with 158 soldiers and seven civilians killed.
According to a 2022 Canadian Armed Forces study, at least 242 male and 21 female Canada Armed Forces regular force personnel suicided from 2002-21. A 2019 study from Veterans Affairs showed 593 male veterans from 2003-14 and 32 female veterans from 2003-12 suicided.
McCallum said the Canmore Legion contacted the Royal Canadian Legion’s Alberta-Northwest Territory command at the beginning of 2024 to add the three involvements to the cenotaph, with financial support coming from the Poppy Fund.
The cenotaph was unveiled by Margo and Oscar Vincent.
Harrison Kearns, a 10-year-old Grade 5 student in Canmore and son of the legion’s Sergeant-at-Arms Mike Kearns, read The Long Watch, a poem written by Kieran Watson of Grande Prairie that last year won the Royal Canadian Legion’s youth remembrance contest.
Individual wreaths were laid by Town of Canmore Coun. Karen Marra, Canadian Senator and former Banff Mayor Karen Sorensen, Banff-Airdrie MP Blake Richards, Canadian Rockies Public Schools board chair Brian Callaghan and Banff-Kananaskis MLA Sarah Elmeligi.
“I hope it will serve as a place of reflection, remembrance and education for generations. To our veterans and their families, your sacrifices have not gone unnoticed,” McCallum said. “Today is a symbol of our gratitude and respect. May it forever honour your service, inspire future generations to uphold and cherish the values you fought for and be a lasting symbol for our communities pride and gratitude.”
REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICES
- Banff Legion: Parade begins at Banff Legion at 10:15 a.m. down Banff Avenue to Banff Elementary School for service. After the service, the parade returns to the legion for a short service at about 11:50 a.m. The legion also has a short service at the Bankhead cenotaph at 2 p.m.
- The Old Banff Cemetery will have a drive through from sundown to 8 p.m. Nov. 10, 11 and 12 to remember the 327 veterans interred at the cemetery.
- Canmore Legion: Parade and service at Lawrence Grassi Middle School gym starting at 10 a.m.
