Region commemorates Remembrance Day ahead of Nov. 11
Parades, services, and commemorations were held across Simcoe-Muskoka this weekend ahead of Monday's Remembrance Day.
Many braved Sunday's rainy weather to honour those who served and sacrificed their lives for Canada.
"It's important to remember those who sacrificed their lives and gave everything so that we can have what we have today," said Carol-Anne Haxon, Ladies Auxiliary president of Bradford Legion Branch 521.
Bradford's Remembrance Day parade and ceremony was also attended by the parents of Sapper Brian James Collier, who was killed in 2010 while serving for Canada in Afghanistan.
"He was very proud to be a Canadian soldier. He just loved the fact that that's who he had become," said Carol Collier, Brian's mother. "He was important to his comrades because he always kept them upbeat when things weren't going well, and he was very proud to be selected to go to Afghanistan. They weren't all chosen for that, and he died doing what he loved."
A street in Bradford was named 'Brian Collier Way' in Brian's honour.
"If Brian was here today, he would say, 'Peace, I love ya,'" said Jim Collier, Brian's father.
Other communities in the region that hosted Remembrance Day events this weekend included:
- Aurora
- Collingwood
- Cookstown
- Sandy Cove
- Tay
- Tottenham
Rotating shifts of local Cadets begin their overnight standing vigil Sunday evening at the Cenotaph in Memorial Square in Barrie.
CTV News will livestream Barrie's Remembrance Day parade on Monday. The link will be available on our homepage.
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