As we approach the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended WWI, here are a couple of videos that you may wish to watch.  The first is a video tribute to the Canadian military set to the song “Sounds of Silence” by Disturbed.

The second is a long format documentary that explores the experiences of Alberta Reservists who have deployed oversees, produced in 2017.  Deployed: Army Reservists Overseas is a 90 minute documentary by LCol Mike Vernon of the Calgary Highlanders. It features interviews with a wide variety of current and former soldiers who have deployed on dozens of missions, beginning with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Egypt in the 1970s on through the Afghanistan deployments of recent years. In Canada, reservists are not ordered to serve overseas, but volunteer to do so, putting their civilian lives on hold until their return. The Highlanders are part of 41 Canadian Brigade Group, based in Calgary, and all the soldiers in the documentary are drawn from units of that Brigade Group.

Though each is a unique individual, their personal stories tell some universal truths about our soldiers, their lives and their work. For all of them, their days overseas were filled with moments of adrenaline-filled risk balanced by the daily routine of regular duties that are part of every deployment. As reservists who often must immediately integrate themselves back into civilian life after their return from deployment, they also have faced some unique challenges. LCol Vernon has served in both the regular force and reserves. In civilian life, he has worked as a video journalist for CBC Television News and is currently a journalism instructor at Mount Royal University in Calgary.Starting in 1956 with file footage of Egypt, the documentary uses interviews with Alberta soldiers who have served overseas to tell the story of their experience and the impact of their service on their professional and personal lives.

Here is a list of Remembrance Day services in Central Alberta:

Red Deer 

Red Deer Legion Service @ Servus Arena – Starts at 10:30 AM

The Korean War Veterans Association Service at  Veterans Park – 49th Ave and Ross Street  Starts at 10:30 AM.  You can park at Sorensen Station Parkade.

Bells of Peace Ceremony at Gaetz Memorial United Church – 4758 50th Street starts at 5 PM

Lacombe 

Lacombe Memorial Centre – 5214 50 Ave starting at 10:45 AM.

Bells of Peace Ceremony at St. Andrew’s United Church 5226 – 51st Avenue from 4:30 to 5:15 PM. There will be a commemorative bell ringing ceremony to to mark the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that ended WWI.

Meals at Lacombe Legion – 5138 49th Street with breakfast 8-10 AM (by donation), Noon to 2PM (light lunch) and from 5-7PM, a community potluck dinner will be held. Please bring enough food to feed the group you are bringing, and then add a bit to ensure there’s enough from everyone.

Blackfalds 

Remembrance Day Ceremony at Abbey Centre – 4500 Womacks Road starts at 10:30 AM.  Note that parking is limited. There will be a brief ceremony at the Cenotaph but the main service will take place inside.

Rimbey 

The Rimbey Legion Service will take place at The Peter Lougheed Community Centre starting at 10:45 AM

Sylvan Lake 

Remembrance Day Ceremony at NexSource Centre – 4823 49th Avenue starts at 10:30. Please arrive early to be seated.  Soldiers from 41 Signal Regiment 2 Squadron will provide the Honour Guard.

Bells of Peace Commemorative Ceremony  Memorial Presbyterian Church – 5020 48th Street begins at 4:45 PM.  There will be a bell ringing ceremony to mark the anniversary of the Armistice.

Innisfail 

The Innisfail Legion’s Remembrance Day Memorial Service ( Innisfail Legion – 5108 49 Ave) begins at 9:45 AM. There will be a wreath laying ceremony at 10:45.  There will be a video feed into their clubroom for overflow and sandwiches and refreshments will be served after the service.

Penhold

Service takes place Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. – Ceremony at the Penhold Regional Multiplex