EMSB to Mark Remembrance Day 2021 in Communal and Individual Reflection

Remembrance Day provides an opportunity for the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) community to take time to remember those who have served Canada – past and present, at home and around the world, during times of war, conflict, and peace, and most recently during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Many EMSB schools conduct annual Remembrance Day ceremonies in general assemblies as a way to gather the student body together for a communal reflection. Others invite guest speakers to talk about their experiences in live streaming formats, and still others create opportunities for students to join in reflection exercises through writing or art in their classrooms, often led by the Spiritual and Community Animation service. 

On November  8 (9:45 am), Rosemount High School (3737 Beaubien East) will host an in-person formal ceremony involving interactive sessions with classes in two locations (Library and Spiritual Community Centre) for 60 mins. Guest speakers will include  Lt. Col Eric Dion. Captain Kevin Camire  Adjutant, (The Black Watch  RHR  of Canada ) and Sergeants Eric Washburn and Brigitte O’Driscoll.

This year, on November 10, more than 30 EMSB schools will be joining together for a one-hour live stream virtual presentation from the Canadian Forces, along with the Montreal Holocaust Museum. This Remembrance Day commemoration called “360 in 60” signifies looking at something from all sides in 60 minutes. This year, a number of the board’s Spiritual and Community Animators will help animate the event which will include speakers from the five units of the Canadian Forces and a survivor testimonial from the Montreal Holocaust Museum. 

Other initiatives being planned are the creation of a mural by students from John F. Kennedy High School in Villeray and a giant poppy wreath by John Grant High School students in Cote Saint-Luc.

Students from East Hill Elementary School in Rivière-des-Prairies, Edward Murphy Elementary School in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and LINKS High School in Villeray will be writing to veterans at Ste. Anne’s Hospital in Ste. Anne de Bellevue and various Legion branches around Montreal.

This year being 100th anniversary of the Remembrance Poppy in Canada, an initiative called “Pass the Poppy II” will continue the tradition of symbolically passing the poppy between students, staff and others, culminating in a video.

About the English Montreal School Board 

With a youth and adult sector population of more than 35,000 students, the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) is the largest English public school board in Quebec. Established on July 1, 1998, when the province created new boards along linguistic lines, the EMSB network consists of 77 schools and centres. For more details, visit the EMSB website at www.emsb.qc.ca.