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Randall, I totally agree with you once again.
I wrote to our Government about this a few years ago… In a nut shell: I was informed that it would make it less meaningful if Nov. 11 was an official stat!
This being said…maybe the Government workers should have it revoked or we should have to work on X-Mas or Easter or Jan 1st or…
I’d love to attend the Nov. 11 ceremonies in Ottawa but I must work and pay for the Government workers day off while they go on shopping.
I respect our veterans, I am proud of our veterans and I’m forever thankful for the freedom they have fought for us… unfortunately I’m not given time to remember as I must work!
If it is important to remember our Veterans and for us to support our troops… then Nov. 11 should be an official STAT for all Canadians.
Cheers
- ScruffI also agree that November 11 should be a holiday as it is in the US. I would appreciate the opportunity to pay my respects to our veterans. It isn’t like the youth of today don’t know what war is ,our country has been involved in one for several years now. I would like to wear both a red poppy and a white poppy though. I appreciate what our vets have done for us but I don’t believe in war. In my opinion all that it accomplishes is death and destruction. I think we should start with the peace talks not end with them-I bet if the world was run by women we’d figure that out!
- kim millarGet rid of family day in February and replace it with Remembrance day in November. Family day is an artificial holiday for Ontario residence that has no meaning at all. The U.S. has Veterans Day and Flag Day. What’s wrong Canadian people today? Are we a country of non-caring non-patriotic people? Has our patriotism our patriotism been watered down with multiculturalism and too much American broadcasting? Randall could and should answer that one.
- JohnBI disagree with the motion of having Remembrance Day become at statutory holiday, this is not out of disrespect but simply because I do respect the day and what it represents. A poor example of what has happened to Remembrance Day observance has occurred in the Quebec construction industry. The CCQ which governs construction in Quebec fought to have the day made a stat holiday only to then decide that the stat will be moved to the closest Monday or Friday, this year the stat holiday is Friday Nov 12/10. This will no doubt bring about some Quebec bashing, however I have the same concern that the day would simply become a day-off and turn into an annual hunting day or whatever. Unfortunately many parents do not take the act of parenting all that seriously and school aged children may or may not be made aware of the importance of this day, at the very least Remembrance Day observances must be made mandatory in all Ontario schools, and in my opinion this should be in the form of a school assembly or trip to the local cenotaph. If we can instill the importance of Remembrance Day in the children then we can ensure that this respect will last far into the future.
- David ScottMr More. I am a hospital worker forced to take this day off for all the wrong reasons! And not old enough to serve this wonderful giving Country of ours to all that emigrate as refugee,emmagrant or whatever and enjoy the freedom ,equality to all religions faiths ethnic backgrounds. And bend over and over again for make life here as pleasant as possible that for 1 minute they could just take a moment out of their very non working day because they can’t because of reasons we can’t mention to STOP ! Bow their heads and thank someone for the peace they are now enjoying HERE and give a little back ,buy a poppy . The color of a poppy would show up great on a black back ground. I stopped today during that moment to say thanks. I live in a new area in Orleans .Workmen stopped their work. I thought of backing my truck out and block the traffic of those that couldn’t stop to remember but then they’d only call 911 because they have rights, ……. I’m ranting on because I’m pissed and I can .
- larryps; I can’t spell so what !
I REMEMBER.
I attended two Remembrance Day ceremonies this year – one was on a Saturday and the other was on a Sunday. I support mandatory ceremonies in schools and a National pause at 11:00am, but I don’t support making it a stat holiday. I don’t believe the majority would use it to spend time reflecting – it would be another day to sleep in.
- Sharon BairdFor as long as I live, I will protest Government workers having this day off while the rest of the population has to work!
Either…
REVOKE the day off for everyone!
or…
Make it an official STAT for everyone!
EQUAL RIGHTS PLEASE
- ScruffFor the last several years I stopped work prior to the start of the ceremonies… I put my phone on do not disturb and watched the ceremonies on line. I made a decision last year and booked today off as a VACATION day. I am so happy that I did. I went out to the ceremonies which were held at the new memorial in Navan. There was a huge crowd. The local fire department re-routed traffic so there would be no noise, the kids from the local school were there, recited poems, sang and there was a young girl there who played the bugel. I heard the family names of people from my community (I grew up there), who died for us, I could see many respected veterans and their family members. I am going to book November 11th off again next year… it IS THAT IMPORTANT TO ME. My son, age 22 attended the ceremonies in Ottawa. Given the opportunity, Canadians will go out and remember. There will be those who watch on TV. That is fine, they should have that opportunity, not be stuck at a desk or whatever job they have. Should November 11th be a holiday. ABSOLUTELY.
- Donna PickupHey Randall,
I couldn’t
agree more with having the day off to remember as it , for most of us is a very solemn day to reflect.
While I was putting in my work day with the rest of my co-workers and we took our moment as a group to remember. Our guest speaker , who is a former American naval pilot and Vietnam vet, stated to us that he was very grateful for being here in Canada yesterday as in the U.S. even though it is a holiday the stores in the States open early and close late to honour their veterans. He has always found being home at this time of year backwards and disturbing.
- IanStat holidays don’t force people to do what the holiday is intended for. It does however, give people that want to use it for it’s intended purpose the opportunity. People get Christmas and Easter off, but don’t celebrate either. The arguments that people won’t use thier remembrance day time off to attend a ceremony is like saying we should cancel those 2 stats because not everyone is celebrating.
- RonI am a Veteran, I am of the belief November 11th should NOT be a stat holiday. The next generation need to continue to learn about Canada’s past, present and future regarding the sacrafices it is has made and it will only do so if they are in school somehow commemorating the day, they will not do that if they get the day off. In addition, to the cirriculum last year I provided reading material (available from the VAC) for the students in my daughters class to read and this year her school choir sang in front of the student body about Canada’s sacrafices.
- Mark