Remembrance Day services planned at six locations across Surrey, with main service in Cloverdale

The Cloverdale Legion will again host Surrey’s main Remembrance Day service on Nov. 11 at Veterans’ Square. It will be the city’s largest ceremony. Six services are planned across the city this year. Will Hanks, the new sergeant-at-arms for the Royal Canadian Legion’s Cloverdale Branch No. 6, said preparations are underway and the organizers will be ready by Nov. 11. Hanks took over from Yvon Lehoux about four weeks ago and is organizing the Veterans’ Square event. He said he has had to get up to speed on six years of notes in just a few weeks.

Hanks is also leading the colour party, the group that marches with flags. He invited Surrey’s police and fire departments to take part; both agreed. The colour party is expected to have more than 20 people, compared with its usual eight to 10. The Surrey Police Service Pipe Band and Surrey Fire Services Pipe Band will also perform. Firefighters will carry ceremonial axes, which Hanks described as unusual and intriguing. He said it is the first time the colour party will include multiple services, and he intends to continue the arrangement. Both services have asked to bring their association flags. SPS members will carry rifles.

Hanks hopes people will come to Veterans’ Square on Nov. 11 to show support for those who served Canada. Silver Cross Mother Sian LeSueur will attend and lay a wreath on behalf of Silver Cross Mothers across the country. The cross is given to mothers who have lost a child in service to Canada. LeSueur’s son, Garrett William Chidley, died in Afghanistan in 2010. Since 2018, the recognition has also included mothers of soldiers who died by suicide after suffering from PTSD. LeSueur will later attend the Cloverdale Legion for the unveiling of a special plaque for her son.

About 80 SPS officers are expected, along with members of the RCMP’s provincial unit, Surrey firefighters, and several politicians and dignitaries, Hanks said. Pipe bands will perform during the ceremony, Chris Ahern will sound the Last Post and the Rouse, and the Cloverdale United Church choir will sing. Several vintage warplanes will again conduct a flypast, which Hanks expects between 11 and 11:30 a.m. Three stands of bleachers will be set up, each seating about 500 people. Hanks expects about 4,000 attendees.

After the ceremony, about 500 marchers will parade from Veterans’ Square to the Cloverdale Legion. The Legion will be open to the public, and everyone is welcome. Food and drinks will be served, with entertainment scheduled from 1 p.m. until “well into the night.”

The City of Surrey advises people attending the Nov. 11 ceremonies around the city to arrive early to find parking. Events will take place rain or shine. The locations and schedules are:

• Veterans’ Square: The Royal Canadian Legion, Cloverdale Branch No. 6, will host “Surrey Remembers,” the city’s main ceremony. A procession begins at 10 a.m., followed by the service at the Cloverdale Cenotaph at 10:25 a.m. The address is 17710 56A Avenue. The city will livestream the ceremony on its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheCityofSurrey

• Surrey Centre Cemetery: The City of Surrey’s Cemetery Services Department will host a family event at 16670 60th Avenue. The service begins at 10:45 a.m., and activities run until 1 p.m.

• Whalley Legion: The Royal Canadian Legion, Whalley Branch No. 229, will host a ceremony at 10626 City Parkway. The procession begins at 10 a.m. and the service at 10:25 a.m.

• Crescent Legion: The Royal Canadian Legion, Crescent Branch No. 240, will host a service at 2643 128th Street. The procession begins at 10 a.m. and the service at 10:25 a.m.

• Port Kells: The Port Kells Community Association will host a service at the cenotaph outside Port Kells Community Hall, 18918 88th Avenue. It begins at 10:30 a.m.

• Newton: The Girl Guides of Canada will host a service at Newton Senior Centre, 13775 70A Avenue. It begins at 10:30 a.m.

For more information about the citywide services, email cityofsurrey@surrey.ca or call 604-591-4011.