A small but mighty crowd returned to TD Station in Saint John for the full Remembrance Day ceremony on Friday.

The traditional ceremony with veterans, military units, bands and choirs wasn’t held for two years due to the pandemic.

A smaller version was held in King’s Square.

Ceremony organizer and emcee Bernard Cormier called it a real victory to return at all.

“It is a real victory. It was a tough decision to make with cases going up and people getting sick with COVID, even on our team. We made the decision and said we’re gonna do it,” Cormier said.

In preparing to host this ceremony, Cormier said they didn’t know what to expect after two years of COVID.

“I lost people on my committee not because of COVID but [due to] sickness, stepping down and moving away. Key, key people. People stepped up. I wrote a letter to all the commanding officers and said ‘I need help’ and they delivered and today is proof of that,” Cormier said.

He called it a rebuilding year for the event and wondered if the lower numbers were due to the long weekend or people attending outdoor services.

The Saint John service had a higher number of veterans who marched.

Cormier said he did push for more vets to take part.

“If we don’t have veterans on parade, that’s what this is all about, to say thanks,” Cormier said.

He said he doesn’t want to dispense with the March of Honour.

“It brings tears to my eyes when I see veterans marching,” Cormier said.

Veterans participate in Friday’s Remembrance Day service at TD Station in Saint John, N.B.
Image by Tamara Steele

Former Lieutenant Governor and Honorary Colonel Graydon Nicholas served as reviewing officer for Friday’s service.

He called it a “deep honour” when asked by Bernard Cormier to serve in this way.

Nicholas said as he stood there he thought of all the Indigenous veterans.

“I had an uncle who served and died in the Netherlands. I had several other uncles who served in Italy and other parts of Europe,” Nicholas said.

He found being part of the ceremony quite emotional.

Nicholas was named an Honourary Colonel in 2019.

At TD Station for the Remembrance Day ceremony. The first here since 2019. pic.twitter.com/FOhLoEpZtn

— Tamara Steele (@tamarasteele1) November 11, 2022