Saskatoon Remembrance Day ceremony replaced with drive-by tribute

Remembrance Day can be celebrated from the seat of your car in Saskatoon this year.

With SaskTel Centre unable to host the annual ceremony — known as the largest indoor Remembrance Day ceremony in Canada — due to gathering restrictions in the province, organizers had to get creative to find a way to honour veterans.

Some of the displays at the Canada Remembers Our Heroes drive-by tribute.
(Keenan Sorokan/650 CKOM)

Brian Swidrovich, Canada Remembers Project’s volunteer director, was used to organizing the Canada Remembers Our Heroes Airshow ever year. With plenty of displays and items accumulated over time, he pitched the idea of a drive-by tribute as a safe way to celebrate Remembrance Day.

“We really have no other alternative,” he said. “It’s just another way for families to come by, pause for a second and take a look at what the message is and reflect on that.”

The tribute is on display until Nov. 12 on Hangar Road directly in front of the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum, where spectators can slowly drive through a full block of displays.

With few other ways to support a local Royal Canadian Legion branch, Swidrovich said it’s important for people to show their support and take time to keep veterans at the forefront this Remembrance Day.

“You can just sense the disappointment,” Swidrovich said of Legion branches across the country unable to hold ceremonies.

“This year they can’t do very much. That’s going to impact poppy sales, obviously. Just the fact that people can’t come in and pay their respects to veterans, celebrate their accomplishments and the sacrifices.”

Local heroes are honoured in the tribute. Aaron Ledoux, a Muskeg Lake Cree Nation veteran who served with the U.S. military in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Si Campbell from Unity, Sask., a Second World War Royal Canadian Air Force veteran will be some of the veterans honoured in the drive-by tribute.

“Take note of the visuals and the messages,” Swidrovich said. “When you go home maybe chat about it for a few minutes with your kids — I think it makes a big difference.”

There will also be a virtual ceremony to honour veterans Nov. 11 at 10:30 a.m. at saskatoonremembers.ca.