Coast Mountains School District encourages all students and staff to take time to reflect on two important days of awareness: National Indigenous Veterans Day on Friday, November 8 and Remembrance Day on Monday, November 11.

National Indigenous Veterans Day is an important day of remembrance that honours the contributions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people who participated in Canada’s military efforts.   More than 7,000 First Nations members served in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War, and an unknown number of Inuit, Métis and other Indigenous people also participated.  One Veterans group estimates that 12,000 Indigenous men and women served in the three wars.

Every year on November 11, on the eleventh hour, Canadians pause for two minutes of silence to honour and remember the men and women who have served, and continue to serve Canada during times of war, conflict, and peace.  We remember the more than 2,300,000 Canadians who have served throughout our nation’s history.  We remember the more than 118,000 who made the ultimate sacrifice.

To mark Coast Mountains School District’s commitment in observance of the National Indigenous Veterans Day on November 8 and Remembrance Day on November 11, all flags in the school district will be lowered to half-mast early Friday morning, November 8 and raised early Tuesday morning, November 12.

Coast Mountains' schools and the Board of Education Office will be closed on Monday, November 11 in observance of Remembrance Day, and will re-open as regularly scheduled on Tuesday, November 12.

Remembrance Day assemblies and activities are being held throughout our school district this week where students will recognize the ways Indigenous soldiers contributed to war efforts across the globe, and will acknowledge the courageous men and women who have served, and continue to serve Canada during times of war, conflict, and peace.  We are grateful to all our veterans who fought in these wars as they gave freedom for our country.

Information about National Indigenous Veterans Day and Remembrance Day from the federal government and the Canadian Legion can he found at the Government of Canada’s Indigenous Veterans and Ways to Remember websites.  To find a legion near you for more local information, access the Legion Branch locator website.

On this National Indigenous Veterans Day and Remembrance Day, we pay tribute to those past and present who served our country with courage and compassion.  Lest we forget ...