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York Catholic schools recognize the importance of Remembrance Day and its time to pause and remember those who fought for our freedom, as well as those who are currently deployed in other countries.
Throughout the week of November 7, many York Catholic schools have been inviting guest speakers to come in and give students a first-hand glimpse at the unfortunate reality of war and why we should all work together as peace keepers.
At St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Elementary School in Woodbridge, staff and students welcomed Corporal Peter Derocher from Base Trenton on November 7 to speak to students about his two tours of duty in Afghanistan working as an aircraft mechanic, and in the role of air support to the missions abroad. After answering questions from students, they presented him with posters as a “thank you” to take back to the mess hall on base.
Students in Keswick will learn first-hand about peacekeeping on November 10, when they will be paid a visit from a veteran from the Historica Dominion Institute’s Memory Project, an initiative that brings veterans into schools to speak to students. At both Prince of Peace and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Elementary Schools, students will have the chance to learn from Mr. Al Bainbridge, a peacekeeper in the Canadian Armed Forces, as he shares his story.
St. Agnes of Assisi Catholic Elementary School students in Woodbridge will be treated to a unique event where past will meet present in honour of Remembrance Day.
Mr. J. Ford, a WWII veteran together with Mr. Michael Bowe, a current member of the Canadian Armed Forces, will visit the school and share their own personal experiences with students in the Junior and Intermediate divisions. Mr. Ford will share authentic photographs of his time in the service during World War II, along with his personal anecdotes, while Mr. Bowe will give a present-day account of being in the armed forces.
On November 11 – Remembrance Day – many schools will be holding ceremonies that include the reading of the poem, In Flanders Fields, the playing of the piece, The Reveille, and two minutes of silence.
At Father Michael McGivney Catholic High School in Markham, staff and students will hear from Major Chris Robidoux of the Canadian Air Force who has completed three deployments to Afghanistan. They will also see a presentation by The Queen’s York Rangers, a Canadian Forces Primary Reserve regiment based in Toronto and Aurora. Students will be participating in a hands-on activity, as they create postcard messages of thanks and encouragement to overseas soldiers.
While Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Elementary School in Woodbridge will be holding a Remembrance Day ceremony for the whole school, students in Grade 7 and 8 will be travelling to Market Lane on Wallace Street to join city of Vaughan dignitaries for the laying of the wreath in honour of our fallen solders.
In honour of those who lost their lives, our surviving veterans and our current members of the armed forces, York Catholic will be lowering all flags to half-mast from sunrise to sunset on November 11.