CITY TO HONOUR WAR HEROES AT LARGE, INDOOR CEREMONY
REMEMBERING THOSE WHO FOUGHT FOR US A crowd gathered in the rotunda of the Legislative Building in Regina on Wednesday to take part in the public service’s annual Service of Remembrance.
On Saturday, be sure to pin a poppy to your coat before heading out to honour Canada’s past and present military heroes at SaskTel Centre, which hosts the largest indoor service in the nation. Erin Petrow has the top five things you need to know before you go.
1. WHERE AND WHEN
Canada’s largest indoor Remembrance Day service is back again at the SaskTel Centre. Doors to the venue open at 9 a.m. — giving attendees plenty of time to listen to the choir while finding a seat before the program begins at 10:15 a.m.
2. WHO WILL BE THERE
Each year the service draws between 8,000 and 10,000 people from the Saskatoon area. Organizers estimate about 1,000 people will march in the parade, including veterans of the Second World War, Korea and Afghanistan, hundreds of sea, air and army cadets, current servicemen and peacekeepers, police, firefighters and RCMP officers alongside members of organizations like the Knights of Columbus, Scouts and Girl Guides.
3. GETTING THERE
For anyone not keen on driving to the service, free bus service will be available from Market Mall and the Centre Mall, leaving at 9:45 a.m. Buses will also leave from the downtown bus mall at the corner of 23rd Street and Second Avenue every 15 minutes between 9 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Return trips will begin after the ceremony finishes around 12:15 p.m. The free bus service also extends to users of Access Transit — just call to book a seat.
4. WHAT TO LEAVE AT HOME
Be aware that staff will search any bags entering SaskTel Centre, and any backpacks or bags measuring 12 inches or larger in width, depth and height will not be allowed inside the arena. Staff also request that all professional camera equipment, outside food and drink (including water bottles) and anything else deemed to be dangerous or inappropriate be left at home.
5. AFTERWARDS
If you want to get involved in more Remembrance Day events after the service ends at noon, consider driving over to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 362 at 3021 Louise St., which will host an entire day of events from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Enjoy some food, live music and dancing with some of the legion’s own. Fans of military history can take tours of the vast — yet relatively unknown — Saskatoon Museum of Military Artifacts, which houses military memorabilia from as far back as the Boer War, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.