'Freedom is not cheap': Manitobans honour veterans at province's largest Remembrance Day ceremony

Manitobans held a collective moment of silence as they gathered at the province's largest Remembrance Day ceremony Tuesday morning.

"Today, as we gather to honour the brave men and women who served and sacrificed for our country, we pause to recognize those that are not with us, those who never returned home," said master of ceremonies Capt. Mary-Anne Saciuk at the start of the Joint Veterans’ Association ceremony at the RBC Convention Centre in downtown Winnipeg, as she stood next to an empty chair symbolizing members of the military who died in the line of service. 

This year, the annual event marked the 80th anniversary of VE-Day — when Germany surrendered to Allied forces in May 1945, ending the Second World War in Europe — and VJ-Day, the formal end to fighting in Japan in August of that year.

More than 1 million Canadians and Newfoundlanders (Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949) fought in the Second World War, Saciuk said. More than 45,000 were killed.

The convention centre ceremony, which typically draws a crowd of more than 5,000 attendees each year, began at 10:40 a.m. with Capt. Angela Brass carrying the Indigenous Veterans of Manitoba's eagle staff to the stage to honour Indigenous service members and veterans.

Brass, a member of Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation who has served in the military for 29 years, told CBC News it was the first time that eagle staff has been on parade.

"I felt very honoured to represent all my fallen relatives, and my relatives that are still serving in the Canadian Armed Forces," Brass said, adding that the staff is a way of recognizing truth and reconciliation within the military.

At 11 a.m., the packed auditorium paused for a moment of silence and the playing of The Last Post and Reveille.

For more than a century, Canadians have observed a minute of silence on Nov. 11, marking the armistice agreement that ended the First World War at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918. 

During the Tuesday ceremony, dignitaries, including Premier Wab Kinew and Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham, laid wreaths at the foot of a cross.

Veteran Dave McLaughlin, who was at the event in Winnipeg on Tuesday, joined the military in 1973 and served 18 years at sea, including two tours in the Middle East and seven NATO deployments.

He said he is reminded of the many Canadian service members who lost their lives across several conflicts.

"Freedom is not cheap. It usually costs lives," McLaughlin said.

Throughout the event, master of ceremonies Saciuk and other speakers thanked veterans and current service members for their service.