The Editor:
After actually getting to see the Remembrance Day Service live in Ottawa this year, I realize what a great job our local volunteer group does here in New Westminster.
Remembrance Day is very important to me, and I have missed very few (eg. COVID-19), so I was really looking forward to seeing, what should be, the best Canada has to offer.
And, while they have VIPs like the Governor-General, the Silver Star Mother, the MP from Papineau; and great uniforms on their bands, there are many things they could learn from New Westminster.
A few examples: It’s a BIG crowd, and those of us standing at the east end of Bank Street could not see down into the area where the formalities were taking place.
We had to rely solely on a big screen which was a long way away.
The setup in our Royal City, being able to see what’s happening, and pick-up detail on the screen simultaneously, is much to be preferred.
Those laying wreaths were not identified, and while the camera focused on the wreath itself, the glare meant we were still unaware of who it was that was laying the wreath, and for what organization.
I did manage to catch the word “Barbados” on one of the last wreaths.
The folksy yet reverent way our announcer briefly mentions who is doing what is much better, in my opinion. And, unlike home, Ottawa had no chairs for us old folks.
Shame.
I could provide a few more examples, but fear I’ve gone on too long already.
So, to summarize: Ottawa good, New Westminster better.
Kudos to those who work so hard to put on such a great show here at home!
- Chris Dumfries, New Westminster
