File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Stephanie Higginson, MLA for Ladysmith-Oceanside

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Taking time to reflect on Remembrance Day

Nov 11, 2025 | 10:00 AM

EACH YEAR ON NOVEMBER 11, British Columbians come together to honour those who served and sacrificed their lives for our country.

Everyone has their own connection to Remembrance Day. In my family, I think of my grandfather, who despite not knowing how to swim, served in the Navy during the Second World War. That kind of courage is hard to fathom and speaks to the extraordinary bravery of our veterans in the face of tyranny.

My father was born while my grandfather was serving overseas. Like so many families across Canada, ours had to grapple with the idea that a father may never get to meet his own son. Luckily my grandfather returned, but not everyone did. And those who did get to return, often carried the weight of war with them.

Remembrance Day is about more than poppies and ceremonies. It’s about remembering what they fought for and why we must never forget. They fought for freedom, for democracy, for peace. They fought so that future generations could live without fear, without oppression, and with the dignity of choice.

It’s also important to remember the veterans who are often left out. On November 8, we observe Indigenous Veterans Day, recognizing the thousands of Indigenous people who have served for Canada but would not receive equal treatment or recognition.

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We must also remember Chinese and Sikh Canadians, who fought for Canada despite not having the right to vote. We remember the Japanese Canadians who were forcibly displaced, dispossessed and interned during the Second World War. We must remember not just our moments of pride, but our history that we will not repeat.

As an MLA with the BC NDP, I see the legacy of their sacrifice in our public institutions, in our commitment to equity, and in our belief that no one should be left behind. But remembrance is not passive. It demands action. It means caring for our veterans, supporting their families, and ensuring that their stories are told not just once a year, but always.

It also means standing up against hate, against authoritarianism, and against the erosion of the very values they defended. In a world with so much global conflict and democracy under threat, remembrance is a call to vigilance.

So this November 11th, I will think of my grandfather, a sailor who couldn’t swim, and of all those who served with courage and conviction. I will also think of the families who waited, who worried, and who mourned. Most of all, Remembrance Day is a time to remind us all to be full of gratitude for the life and freedom that we get to live thanks to those who came before us.

Lest we forget.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.