Carleton Place to host annual Remembrance Day parade and ceremony

The Town of Carleton Place will once again be paying homage to Canada’s fallen heroes on Tuesday, Nov. 11, as the community gathers for its annual Remembrance Day parade and cenotaph ceremony, a tradition that has united Canadians since 1931.

Organized by the Captain A. Roy Brown Branch #192 of the Royal Canadian Legion, the event will bring together veterans, cadets, community organizations, and residents in tribute to those who served and sacrificed for the country.

According to a release from the town, the parade will form up on Mill Street beside Town Hall at 10:20 a.m. before marching off at 10:35 a.m. under the direction of Parade Commander Peter Schaffer, Legion Branch President. The Legion Colour Party, led by Sgt.-at-Arms Mike Paasila, will be followed by the MacEoin-Ramsay Pipe Band.

The parade route will proceed along Bridge Street to Franklin Street, ending at Veterans Memorial Park on Veterans Way, where the Cenotaph Ceremony will begin at 10:50 a.m. The service will also be streamed live on the Legion’s Facebook page for those unable to attend the parade in person.

This year’s ceremony will feature participation from the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps (RCSCC) #211 Lanark and the Navy League Cadet Corps (NLCC) #18, with plans also underway for a marching contingent from Canadian Forces Base Petawawa. A Chinook helicopter flypast and a military firing party have once again been requested through the Canadian Armed Forces — a dramatic display that has become a highlight in recent years.

According to the town, cadets from RCSCC 211 Lanark will provide sentry duties during the service, while cadets from NLCC 181 will hold a shortened evening vigil at the Cenotaph between 6 and 8 p.m. The public is encouraged to stop by in support of the young cadets.

To accommodate the parade and ceremony, several road closures will be in place, including Veterans Way (Franklin Street) from 5 a.m. until noon, as well as Franklin Street, Beckwith Street, and portions of Mill Street from 9 a.m. through the conclusion of the ceremony. Residents are asked to remove vehicles from these areas, and no parking signs will be clearly posted.

Residents are invited to wear their poppies proudly throughout the Remembrance period and to place them at the Cenotaph after the ceremony, continuing a national tradition that mirrors the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa.