On the afternoon of Monday November 11, 2024, Vancouver Peace Poppies hosted our 9th annual “Let Peace Be Their Memorial” wreath-laying ceremony together with Vancouver Unitarians. The event was a hybrid: in person at 49th and Oak in the Vancouver Unitarian Sanctuary and online via Youtube (recording). In addition to 16 beautiful themed wreaths hand-made from natural greenery, there were songs and anti-war poetry.
Six new wreaths draw attention to well-known and under-reported regional conflicts.
Dr Linda Thyer of Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment spoke about the Environmental Cost of War. She is a family physician, founding member of Doctors for Planetary Health-West Coast, and a member of Conscience Canada.
You can watch on Youtube the whole ceremony (90m),
or click here for Dr Thyer’s keynote talk (16m video),
or see our Photo Album.
As usual the wreaths were on display until noon Monday Nov 18, behind the sanctuary.
Recent press coverage
Nov 9 interview podcast on RedEye (Vancouver Coop Radio)
Nov 8 article by Nick Seebruch (Rabble.ca)
Ceremonies in past years
You can view the 2023 recording on Youtube . Or see the Photo Album .
Download PDFs of 2023 talks: Shawn Gauthier’s Intro & Closing ; Teresa’s Keynote Talk
In 2019 on Monday November 11 we commemorated civilian victims of war, in Vancouver’s Seaforth Peace Park, with about 275 in attendance. Our keynote speaker was Fazineh Keita of Innocence Lost Foundation . The Multifaith Action Society joined BC Humanist Association as co-hosts.
Devin Gillan recorded a video of the event on youtube (1h 25m).
Click on image to see our Google Photos album.
Ceremonies from 2017 to 2022.
Testimonials from participants:
- “Thank you so much for inviting us to partake in this incredible ceremony focused around peace and remembrance.” Ryo — Oxfam Canada
- “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to participate in the wreath laying…. the ceremony was very well organized. The music and singing was beautiful. It was a wonderful experience.” — Martin (wreathlayer)
- “On behalf of the Re:Sisters, I’d like to extend deepest gratitude for including us, once again, in such a moving event. My daughter, niece and nephew all were so emotional about it.” — Barb (singer)
- “I joined online and it was an extremely moving and enriching ceremony.” and “The event felt intimate, personal, and moving despite it being remote.” — Online attendees
- “I love the way you have worked to involve people in the event … my brother says it was the most meaningful Remembrance Day ceremony he had ever been to.” — In-person attendee
- “From all of us at PIRS, please know what a compelling and powerful session you organized today— from the sponsor organization’s welcome remarks, Doctors without Borders keynote, wonderful music with the two gifted musicians, the laying of the wreaths by such a diverse group of committed peace lovers, and all the work on your part to make this happen. We were honoured to be included and hope you will call upon us next year. — Pacific Immigrant Resources Society