November 11 is a solemn day.
It is marked by memorials, silence and memories in honour of people who have made significant sacrifices towards defending Canadian values and freedoms.
And so, on Queen's Park's South Lawn, people including the likes of Premier Doug Ford, Speaker Ted Arnott, Cabinet Secretary Michelle DiEmanuele, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Heritage Minister Lisa MacLeod and MP Carolyn Bennett paid their respects.
"Let us acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of those who fought to protect Canada and our allies," the premier said, standing in front of a memorial to veterans and wearing a poppy. "Our government will always stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our veterans, our active servicemen and women and our military families. We will honour them. We will remember them."
MacLeod added her thoughts to the proceedings, and pointed out that the Armed Forces serve people at home in a variety of ways.
"We would also be remiss not to thank those in today's military who served in our long-term care facilities across Ontario," MacLeod noted, referencing the emergency support they provided in the first wave of the pandemic when some LTC home were especially devastated by COVID-19.
Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath, who attended a memorial ceremony in Hamilton, also thanked veterans for their service. She highlighted in a statement what she saw as further ways to support veterans. "On Remembrance Day, we also recognize our duty as a province to care for those who have made extraordinary sacrifices for our country. That means ensuring treatment and support for veterans with mental health issues, providing dignified seniors care as veterans age, and ending the federal Disability Award clawback from injured veterans who receive social assistance."
Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca posted a video in which he paid tribute to veterans. "Too often, peace and freedom demand a sacrifice so immense that they leave behind a family in mourning or a person forever altered by his or her experience abroad," he noted.
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On Remembrance Day, we stand together to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of this nation. We must always honour our Canadian heroes. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LestWeForget?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LestWeForget</a> <a href="https://t.co/Eg0rajYu4c">pic.twitter.com/Eg0rajYu4c</a>
&mdash; Steven Del Duca (@StevenDelDuca) <a href="https://twitter.com/StevenDelDuca/status/1458803657026252819?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Similarly, Green Leader Mike Schreiner used a moment in the legislature last week to thank veterans. He noted that Guelph, which he represents in the legislature, was the home of John Macrae, who wrote the much-recited poem In Flanders Fields.
"I think of my father-in-law, of my grandfather, and the deeply troubling stories they shared," Schreiner said, speaking emotionally about what the day means to him.
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On Remembrance Day, and every day, we owe veterans &amp; their families our sincerest gratitude to all who have risked their lives to defend our democracy &amp; freedom in this country. 
On behalf of the Ontario Greens, I say thank you. Lest we forget. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RemembranceDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RemembranceDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/LT4jBNtO2l">pic.twitter.com/LT4jBNtO2l</a>
&mdash; Mike Schreiner (@MikeSchreiner) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeSchreiner/status/1458796661363253248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Lest we forget: Queen’s Park remembers

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