Today is Remembrance Day. At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians observe two minutes of silence to honour everyone who has served, and everyone who gave their lives in service to this country.
This post is a little different from my usual ones. There’s no scam to warn you about and no setting to change. Just a few stories worth knowing, and some trusted places to find the stories of your own family.
The Story of the Poppy
In 1915, Dr. John McCrae, a Canadian serving with the artillery, wrote the poem In Flanders Fields after seeing red poppies growing among soldiers’ graves. Its opening line — “In Flanders fields the poppies blow” — became one of the best-known lines in Canadian history.
In 1921, the Great War Veterans Association, which later became the Royal Canadian Legion, adopted the poppy as Canada’s symbol of remembrance. The Legion’s Poppy Campaign still runs every year, from the last Friday in October to November 11, and supports Veterans in need.
✓ How to wear it
The poppy is traditionally worn on the left side — on your lapel, or as close to your heart as you can.
Everyone Who Served
Canadians of every background have served this country — and not all of them were honoured as they should have been.
In 1916, after Black communities pushed for the right to serve, No. 2 Construction Battalion was formed — the first and only all-Black battalion-sized unit in Canadian military history. More than 600 men joined, most of them from Nova Scotia. It took until 2022 for the Government of Canada to formally apologize to their descendants for the racism they faced.
Remembrance Day is for all of them.
Find Their Stories Online
This is something the internet does very well. If someone in your family served, there’s a good chance you can find their records — for free, from home.
- Canadian Virtual War Memorial (veterans.gc.ca) — run by Veterans Affairs Canada, it honours more than 118,000 Canadians who have died in service since Confederation. Many entries include photos, letters, and newspaper clippings shared by families.
- Library and Archives Canada (library-archives.canada.ca) — more than 600,000 First World War service files have been digitized and can be searched online for free.
As always, check the URL at the top of your browser before you start searching. Government of Canada websites end in .gc.ca or canada.ca. Both are free to search — you never need to pay a website to see these records.
From me to you
To every Veteran, every family who waited for someone to come home, and every family still waiting: thank you. We will remember them. 🌺
⚠ Disclaimer
This article is for general information and awareness only. Historical information is drawn from publicly available sources including Veterans Affairs Canada, Library and Archives Canada, and the Government of Canada. The Lady Tech is not affiliated with any organization mentioned. Website links were current as of November 11, 2026.