With Remembrance Day falling on a Monday in 2013, many services are taking place over the weekend. The City of Toronto has a partial list of community observances here.
There are also some special events happening over the weekend, like a comedy fundraiser for the Wounded Warriors charity, and a fundraising performance of R.C. Sherriff’s play Journey’s End, with all proceeds going to the Royal Canadian Legion.
For the actual morning of November 11th, here’s a partial list of prominent services:
Mount Prospect Cemetery, Cross of Sacrifice:
On November 11th, the day’s official Remembrance Day services begin with a Sunrise Ceremony at Prospect Cemetery’s Cross of Sacrifice, organized by the Royal Canadian Legion’s Earlscourt branch 65. This year will be the event’s 85th anniversary. (Prospect Cemetery, 1450 St. Clair Avenue West, 8 a.m.)
University of Toronto, Soldiers’ Tower:
Nearly 1200 members of the university who lost their lives during the two world wars are commemorated on the walls of the Soldiers’ Tower on the University of Toronto’s campus, at the western end of Hart House. The university’s service begins at 10:20 a.m. and concludes with minutes of silence at 11 a.m., followed by a reception in the Great Hall. (Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle, 10:20 a.m.)
Historic Fort York, Garrison Commons:
Fort York is a popular choice for observances because of the ample grounds, the accessibility, and the unique link with Toronto’s military history. The fort also happens to be a good vantage point from which to observe vintage planes taking off from Billy Bishop Airport for their flight over the the city centre at 11 a.m. (Historic Fort York, 100 Garrison Road, 10:45 a.m.)
Old City Hall, Toronto Cenotaph:
This is the City of Toronto’s main observance (more City events are listed here), held in front of the City’s cenotaph. The tower’s bells will toll at 11 a.m., signalling two minutes of silence (and two minutes of stopped TTC vehicles across the city). (Old City Hall Cenotaph, 60 Queen Street West, 10:45 a.m.)
Queen’s Park, Ontario’s Veterans Memorial:
This service, perhaps the largest in the city, will be the first one presided over by Premier Kathleen Wynne. There will be a 21-gun salute. (South Lawn, 111 Wellesley Street, 10:45 a.m.)
On Your Computer:
At 11 a.m., an 11-minute social media blackout—no Twitter, Facebook, or other activity—is being encouraged. If you can’t get away from your computer, the most affecting way to observe the day is probably the livecast from the War Museum in Ottawa. The memorial was designed to shine a beam of sunlight at exactly 11 a.m. on Remembrance Day onto a tombstone representing Canada’s unknown soldier.