While thousands will gather at the Vancouver cenotaph in Victory Square Monday morning, another group will assemble in the afternoon to highlight other victims of war, including civilians and the environment.
The Vancouver Peace Poppies Remembrance for Peace Ceremony will be held indoors at 2 p.m. in the Unitarian Sanctuary near Oak Street and 49th Avenue.
It will also feature wreaths, though with white poppies, symbolizing ongoing conflicts that don’t receive as much attention.
Organizer Teresa Gagne says not everyone, like newcomers to Canada, can relate to the official ceremonies that focus on the World Wars.
“There is this diversity in Canadian society in different perspectives on war and remembrance,” Gagne explained.
“It’s really important that that gets out there.”
The white poppy symbolizes the civilians and other under acknowledged victims of various conflicts, especially modern ones.
Gagne says civilians make up an estimated 90 per cent of the victims of contemporary war. She says it’s important that Vancouverites look beyond Canadian borders and become more aware of other conflicts.
One special guest speaker at the Peace Ceremony will be a doctor with Canadian Physicians for the Environment.
“Although people are very concerned about the environment these days, they don’t often make the link to the environmental damage caused by war,” said Gagne.
2024 marks the ninth year the Peace Ceremony will take place in Vancouver. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, it was held at Seaforth Peace Park, and Gagne says organizers hope to hold it outside once again next year.
Those interested can also watch a livestream of the event online.