Nanaimo City councilor and master of ceremonies Ian Thorpe speaks to a large crowd during the Remembrance Day ceremony at Nanaimo's Dallas Square Park on Tuesday, Nov. 11. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

lest we forget

Remembrance Day ceremonies held in Nanaimo and across Canada

Nov 11, 2025 | 1:37 PM

NANAIMO — A large crowd gathered in downtown Nanaimo on Tuesday, honouring those who gave the supreme sacrifice for our country.

Services for Remembrance Day were held at Cenotaphs all over the mid-Island and across Canada on Tuesday, Nov. 11, recognizing the official end of the First World War in 1918, and paying tribute to all those lost in war and who are still serving today.

The Nanaimo ceremonies were held in front of the Cenotaph at Dallas Square Park, in front of a crowd of well over 1,000 people.

“This year marks 80 years since the end of WW2, and 107 years since the Armistice that marked the end of WW1 back in 1918. Today, is all about our veterans”, said master of ceremonies and Nanaimo city councillor Ian Thorpe.

A mostly clear sky and no wind made for the perfect conditions for this year’s Remembrance Day ceremony. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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The service began with a parade down Church St. featuring local Armed Forces units, RCMP and other service community groups.

The parade was followed by the singing of both the Canadian and American national anthems, with Archdeacon Brian Evans leading the crowd through hymns and the Prayer of Remembrance.

The local cadet honour guard remained around the Cenotaph in downtown Nanaimo for 24 hours prior to the Remembrance Day ceremony. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Members from the 205 Collishaw Royal Canadian air and sea cadets once again had their extended honour guard around the Cenotaph, starting at 11 a.m. on Monday morning.

Evan spoke about how young the cadets looked and how it reminded him of the young men and women who made the supreme sacrifice in war, fighting for the freedoms we enjoy today.

“How they had left our country at the age some of these young cadets are today. And I, along with all of you, are reminded of the sacrifice that they made with their personal lives, and the sacrifices their families made who remained at home.”

Members of the RCMP, Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron, members of local Legion branches and other service groups finished the ceremonies by walking past and saluting the cenotaph at Dallas Square Park. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

In years past, the sombre ceremonies started with a special happy birthday to Victor Osborne, who served in the Navy during the Second World War.

Osborne sadly passed away earlier this year at the age of 106, with Thorpe taking a special moment to remember him.

Osborne was a familiar face at Nanaimo Remembrance Day events, seen here in the green beret in 2024. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Following the ceremonies, members of the public were invited to Royal Canadian Legion Branch 10 and Mount Benson Branch 256 for a full day of food and entertainment, as well as the lounge at 808 Thunderbird Wing RCAFA, located at the Nanaimo Military Camp at 719 Nanaimo Lakes Rd., until 2:30 p.m.

Open houses are also taking place at Legions across the mid-Island, with more information available here.

You can view our livestream of the entire Nanaimo ceremony below.

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