‘Freedom is not cheap’: Manitobans honour veterans at province’s largest Remembrance Day ceremony

ManitobaManitobans held a collective moment of silence as they gathered at the province’s largest Remembrance Day ceremony Tuesday morning.RBC Convention Centre ceremony began with carrying of eagle staff for 1st timeLauren Scott · CBC News · Posted: Nov 11, 2025 11:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 1 hour agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.This year, the annual Remembrance Day ceremony at the RBC Convention Centre marked the 80th anniversary of VE-Day — when Germany surrendered to Allied forces in May 1945, ending the Second World War in Europe — and VJ-Day, the formal end to fighting in Japan in August of that year. (Darin Morash/CBC)Manitobans held a collective moment of silence as they gathered at the province’s largest Remembrance Day ceremony Tuesday morning.”Today, as we gather to honour the brave men and women who served and sacrificed for our country, we pause to recognize those that are not with us, those who never returned home,” said master of ceremonies Capt. Mary-Anne Saciuk at the start of the Joint Veterans’ Association ceremony at the RBC Convention Centre in downtown Winnipeg, as she stood next to an empty chair symbolizing members of the military who died in the line of service. This year, the annual event marked the 80th anniversary of VE-Day — when Germany surrendered to Allied forces in May 1945, ending the Second World War in Europe — and VJ-Day, the formal end to fighting in Japan in August of that year.More than 1 million Canadians and Newfoundlanders (Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949) fought in the Second World War, Saciuk said. More than 45,000 were killed. The convention centre ceremony, which typically draws a crowd of more than 5,000 attendees each year, began at 10:40 a.m. with Capt. Angela Brass carrying the Indigenous Veterans of Manitoba’s eagle staff to the stage to honour Indigenous service members and veterans. Capt. Angela Brass carried the eagle staff to the stage to honour Indigenous service members and veterans during Tuesday’s ceremony. (CBC)Brass, a member of Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation who has served in the military for 29 years, told CBC News it was the first time that eagle staff has been on parade.”I felt very honoured to represent all my fallen relatives, and my relatives that are still serving in the Canadian Armed Forces,” Brass said, adding that the staff is a way of recognizing truth and reconciliation within the military. At 11 a.m., the packed auditorium paused for a moment of silence and the playing of The Last Post and Reveille. For more than a century, Canadians have observed a minute of silence on Nov. 11, marking the armistice agreement that ended the First World War at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918. Winnipeggers gathered at the RBC Convention Centre for Manitoba’s largest Remembrance Day ceremony on Tuesday. (Darin Morash /CBC)During the Tuesday ceremony, dignitaries, including Premier Wab Kinew and Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham, laid wreaths at the foot of a cross. Veteran Dave McLaughlin, who was at the event in Winnipeg on Tuesday, joined the military in 1973 and served 18 years at sea, including two tours in the Middle East and seven NATO deployments. He said he is reminded of the many Canadian service members who lost their lives across several conflicts. “Freedom is not cheap. It usually costs lives,” McLaughlin said. Throughout the event, master of ceremonies Saciuk and other speakers thanked veterans and current service members for their service. WATCH | Thousands attend Remembrance Day service:Thousands gather for Manitoba’s largest Remembrance Day serviceManitobans held a collective moment of silence during the Remembrance Day ceremony at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg on Tuesday. “To our veterans, we extend a simple yet profoundly heartfelt message: Thank you,” said Saciuk. “Thank you for your unwavering service, both in times of peace and in the face of war.” “Your dedication and sacrifices have not gone unnoticed.”WATCH | See the full Remembrance Day ceremony at the RBC Convention Centre:Winnipeg Remembrance Day ceremonyWinnipeggers gather Tuesday for a Remembrance Day service at the RBC Convention Centre. ABOUT THE AUTHORLauren Scott is a Winnipeg-based reporter with CBC Manitoba. They hold a master’s degree in computational and data journalism, and have previously worked for the Hamilton Spectator and The Canadian Press.With files from Gavin Axelrod