Remembrance Day a busy time at Esplanade

I love the fall season, especially as it makes its crisp and cozy transition into winter. If I could live in a land of perpetual autumn bliss, I would be a happy person indeed. Add in a little dusting of snow, a nice hot chocolate, and ah!, it’s loveliness all-around.

One of my favourite holidays is actually Remembrance Day. Don’t get me wrong: I know it’s not a cheerful celebration in the same way as, say, Easter or Halloween. There isn’t candy, or dressing up, or toys to buy in a store. You might think it sounds a little strange that it’s on my list of favourites. To understand that, you might need to know a little bit more about me. I graduated from the University of Guelph with a baccalaureate in arts, majoring in history — which is why the Esplanade is such a good fit for my historyloving heart! I started here in the Archives in 2011, and moved into the position of volunteer coordinator in 2014.

Remembrance Day in particular, has a very deep meaning for me. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians are asked to pause in memory of the thousands of men and women who served our country. Remembrance Day is one of the most important days to me, not just from a historic point of view, but from a social and very emotional perspective as well. You can find me at the ceremonies every year, crying into my jacket. Let me tell you, I am not one of those women who cry beautifully, gently wiping a glittering tear off their cheek in graceful tragedy. Quite the opposite, in fact, my crying involves a lot of undignified sobbing, red puffy eyes, and (worst of all) awkwardly loud nose-blowing. Every year I try to keep it together, but every year I completely fail. Maybe it is my history background. There are so many things to cry about, when you learn about the past and the wars we have endured. More than that, I think it also has to do with the fact that I feel so happy that we’re all here, together. When I look out over the crowd on Nov. 11, and see everyone, young and old, coming together at one special time, it makes me feel very hopeful that there is still good in the world. I’m proud to say that Remembrance Day is our busiest event of the entire year here at the Esplanade, with more than 1,200 people in attendance.

If you would like to join us at the Esplanade for Remembrance Day, we start with the service in the Main Theatre then we’ll join together after the ceremony for the parade march to Riverside Veterans Memorial Park, across from City Hall. A second service at the Cenotaph is held at 11 a.m. Please feel free to come early, as coffee and refreshments will be served at the Esplanade, with assistance from our dedicated volunteers and staff.

Jennifer Utrera Barrientos is volunteer co-ordinator at the Esplanade.