Members of 205 Collishaw Royal Canadian Air Cadets will stand on guard for 24 hours around the Nanaimo Cenotaph, leading up to Remembrance Day on Monday. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

remembrance day

Cadets ready ahead of 24-hour vigil at Nanaimo cenotaph

Nov 5, 2024 | 5:36 AM

NANAIMO — It’s a chance to deeply reflect on the sacrifices made by those in wartime.

Members from 205 Collishaw Royal Canadian Aid Cadets, along with other local cadet units will again stage a round-the-clock vigil at the Nanaimo Cenotaph, beginning at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10 and lasting until they’re relieved ahead of Remembrance Day services the following day.

Commanding officer Capt. Dave Ruel told NanaimoNewsNOW other units across the country hold similar events as a way to create a more personal connection to the services.

“Just wanting to honour those that sacrificed for the freedoms that we have, and I always just try to install that within the Cadets when we kind of kick things off, those that are there, I tell them ‘When you’re doing your guard duty, think about why you’re able to stand there and be able to do that. Things would be a lot different if we didn’t have the freedoms that we have’.”

Cadets will stand on guard at the corners of the Cenotaph for 20 minute shifts, rotating through the night.

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Ruel said as of now, he has 30-35 cadets committed, but they typically end up with 50 to 60 participants.

Nearby St. Paul’s Anglican Church will house the cadets through the evening, providing a warm and safe environment for them to nap as needed.

Local businesses, along with Royal Canadian Legion Branch 256 and the City all provide different assistance.

A candlelight vigil is held in the evening, involving all cadets and members of the public. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Community Safety Officers also ensure they do extra patrols in the area, with Ruel saying safety is the main priority both from circumstance and the weather.

“I know a lot of cadets that want to do it and they’ll, for the most part, tough it out as best as they can. A lot of times it’s us adults who say ‘well, we’re going to pause for a little bit and see how the weather breaks,’, but so far, out of the entire time I’ve been doing it, we’ve only had that one pause for a little bit, it has gotten pretty chilly.”

Last year, posts were temporarily abandoned during a strong downpour which lasted around 40 minutes, before the vigil resumed.

A candlelight event is planned for 8 p.m. on Sunday night, which is open to the public.

Each cadet takes 20 minute shifts, rotating through the night at the Cenotaph. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

— with files from Jordan Davidson

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