The Camrose Booster
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Remembrance Day: Life after service
George Forbes retires as a captain in the army and moved with his family to Camrose.

By Adan Shaikh

When the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces don their uniform, they accept the visible danger of deployment, but also the unseen, longer‑term risk to their overall wellbeing. Their mission doesn’t end when the boots come off, another fight begins when they return home.

According to Veterans Affairs Canada’s (VAC) Life After Service Survey (LASS), around 39 per cent of Regular Force veterans reported that adjusting to post‑service life was “difficult” or “very difficult.”  That statistic tells us that when we say, “thank you for your service,” we also need to ask: what happens next?

In the 2016 survey, veterans reported higher prevalence of chronic conditions like arthritis, back problems, hearing issues, depression and anxiety than comparable civilians. One study notes that compared with other Canadians, veterans have higher levels of chronic mental and physical health conditions, much higher levels of functional impairment in the community and workplace.

Apart from the health issues, there’s the matter of identity and structure, military service provides a defined role, frame and purpose. Once that changes, many veterans face the “who am I now?” question. Qualitative research shows themes of alienation, loss of identity, difficulty interacting with civilians, and challenges in navigating the civilian healthcare system.

“Trying to get yourself into a regimented routine can be challenging. In the military, first thing in the morning you go to your physical training, then coffee, then shower, then your training, then lunch, and then back to training. But when you are a civilian, you wake up in the morning and ask yourself, ‘wait what do I do now?’ I got into gardening and started growing my own vegetables and fruits,” said Veteran George Forbes, who started his military career very early on in his life.

Forbes grew up in Gagetown, N.B. “My father was in the Black Watch and he was a World War II, and Korean War vet. Basically, back in those days in the 1960s, military academies were the big thing. They had one in Nova Scotia, but a lot of families couldn’t afford to send their kids there so what Black Watch did was start their own cadet corp, and so that was the start of my military career so to speak. I joined the regular force in 1977 and retired in 2017, so that was 40 years in the military. I guess you can say I just had a calling and a way of life,” shared Forbes.

During his time in the service, he did six tours. He spent a substantial amount of time in Africa, some time in Germany, being present when the Iron Curtain came down, and then as a trainer in Gagetown.

“I retired in Halifax, at the rank of captain. My last five years in the service, I had already turned 55 and once you turn 55 you cannot be deployed overseas. I was signed up until 60 years of age so they put me in a recruiting centre as a career counsellor because of my experience,” said Forbes.

According to VAC data, in the 2016 survey 28 per cent of partners and 17 per cent of children reported the veteran’s transition was difficult for the family. When considering the price of service, it must be recognized that it is not simply days spent overseas or months away from loved ones, it is long‑term wear on mind, body and family. Operational Stress Injury Social Support (OSISS)–a program of Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS), offers support for veterans and their families to help support their journey of readjusting to life after service as they navigate finances and health.

In Camrose, Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 57 provides a space for veterans to socialize and engage with their community. Veteran Barb Steinman helps other veterans fill out the forms and look into the services provided by VAC.

“When I joined, my trade was supply, so I was warehousing, I was bookkeeping, I was doing parts and inventory control. What’s new now is that the kids who come in to the forces, can get a civilian ticket for all the trades that they learn, so they can now have that piece of paper to help them transition to civilian life after they retire or take their release,” shared Steinman.

She shared how after the service there are several programs through Veterans Association, to support the soldiers as they adjust back to civilian life. Honouring veterans requires more than parades and ceremonies. It means acknowledging the long-term costs of service, the physical injuries, the invisible wounds, the jarring transition of settling back into society after the service and supporting those who now rebuild their lives in civilian society.

For more information or to find support, contact Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 57 at
780-672-3325 or visit legion.ca.
Zetsen Homes wins Customer Experience Award
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Celina Brisson holds the ANHWP’s Customer Experience Award. Brisson has been part of the Zetsen Homes team for 18 years and works closely with the clients to ensure they feel supported throughout the process of purchasing their new home.

By Adan Shaikh

Zetsen Homes has been recognized for excellence in customer service, receiving the Customer Experience Award from the Alberta New Home Warranty Program (ANHWP).

The ANHWP, established in 1974, is Alberta’s leading provider of new home warranties. The organization partners with home builders across the province to ensure quality construction and consumer protection through mandatory coverage on new builds. Each year, ANHWP evaluates participating builders based on homeowner feedback gathered through a mandatory post-possession survey.

These surveys measure customer satisfaction in several areas, including construction quality, communication, and overall building experience. Results are then compiled and compared across all builders in Alberta areas. The highest-ranking companies in each category earn recognition for their commitment to customer satisfaction and consistent service.

“We have won within Edmonton and area, and this is not the first time we have received this recognition. This is the fifth time we have won this award,” shared Celina Brisson, customer care representative at Zetsen Homes.

“Some builders kind of just wait for the homeowners to call them with a problem. We’re really proactive with contacting them, we check in around three, six, nine and then 12 month marks and check in with our customers. A lot of people are nervous to ask the questions. So that’s kind of what I’m there for, to make sure that everyone’s comfortable with their new home and that all the systems are operating properly,” said Brisson.

For Zetsen Homes, the award highlights their long-standing reputation for client care within the housing market.

Rockin’ Worship Night


By Nadine Leming

CityLights Church will be hosting Rockin’ Worship Night on November 19 at 7 p.m. The purpose of this inter-denominational event is to allow Christians from Camrose and area to praise God as one unified body.

Bryden Russell, CityLights Church band leader, said, “Sometimes churches can be isolated from one another, particularly across denominational lines, so we wanted to get all churches and youth groups to lift up Jesus’ name together under one roof. The Bible calls this homothymadon (‘same passion’), and it’s what the early church was all about. We feel that such ‘cross-pollination’ among local congregations is a step in the right direction to reach our city for Christ.”

In the past, the worship team was mostly from CityLights Church and Century Meadows Baptist Church, but has had members from Resurrection Lutheran Brethren Church and CentrePoint. Most of the support staff and attendees have come from all over Camrose County, but some have come from Edmonton and Red Deer as well.

This worship service is the fourth event of its kind in the last few years and was originally called Friday Night Alive. In the past at these events, there was flag waving and dancing in the aisles, which was fun.

Bryden added, “Last year we did a youth-specific event at Century Meadows Baptist Church, complete with a mosh pit and crowd surfing. Not sure if this upcoming event will get as wild, but you never know!”

This year at Rockin’ Worship Night, attendees can expect a night of rockin’ worship.

Bryden mentioned, “Songs tend to be tunes most Christians would be familiar with–many from the 1990s and early 2000s, but we love cranking out old hymns too.”

Worshipers can expect this event will be a little more concert style than a traditional Sunday morning. The volume will be turned up and the lights low, allowing people attending to worship in a way that is comfortable to them.  Whether you raise your hands, close your eyes, or you want to dance, all are welcome to come praise the Lord.
Admission to this night of worship is free. Though the music may be geared more towards teens and adults, everyone is welcome to attend. There will not be any childcare or nursery, so parents may want to consider a babysitter or care for their younger children themselves. The community is invited to join CityLights Church for some amazing worship.
Teichroeb’s breathtaking exhibit coming to Lougheed
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Helen Teichroeb’s work is on display until January 6, 2026. There are approximately 30 pieces in the collection.

By Adan Shaikh

The next artist to showcase her work at the Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre is Helen Teichroeb. Having lived in Camrose for about two years, Helen says she’s fallen in love with the City’s creative pulse and the welcoming artistic community. A musician and painter, she feels right at home in a place that celebrates both sound and colour.

“I started painting in late 2016, I had always liked to paint, but I never thought I was very good. I knew I had a creative streak. That year my daughter and I watched a Bob Ross tutorial as a Christmas activity and I was just hooked after that,” shared Helen, reflecting on her journey as an artist.

She began by following online tutorials, but over time found herself painting more intuitively. “Our artistic side can often be repressed and I just wasn’t doing that anymore,” she said. What began as a hobby soon turned into a passion that continues to grow.

“I thought I might focus on fruit and foliage because I did some apple paintings that I was very impressed with. But then I got curious, so I started doing landscapes and trying different things. I keep wanting to go back to doing more fruit and foliage because I really enjoy the details, like the veins of a leaf or the exact shades of an apple, how it goes from a bright red spot to a yellow spot,” she explained.

Her work focuses on realism, and she continues to explore different mediums as her style evolves. “I started with oils because it was Bob Ross, then I went to acrylics and now I go back and forth between the two, right now I am on an oil streak,” said Helen. “By 2019 I had a solo show in Grande Prairie, in the Creative Arts Centre there, and then I joined the Art Guild, so I had a fellowship and connection with other artists, and we explore together. Two years ago, I moved to Camrose and I saw The Camrose Booster, and I read about the other artists and reached out to Jane Cherry to display my work,” she shared.

“In this exhibit I am displaying pretty much all of my pieces, I believe there will be approximately 28 to 30 works. There are some pieces that I personally don’t really care about so much, but then, in the past people have surprised me by being attracted to them,” she added.

Helen’s exhibit will be on display in the lobby of the Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre from November 13 to January 8, 2026. A meet-and-greet with the artist will take place on November 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. The collection can also be viewed during regular box office hours, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Those who are interested in applying to show their own artwork, can contact Jane Cherry, curator of the show, at jcherry62@hotmail.com.
A veteran’s experience

By Nadine Leming

Kerry Grettum is a long time Camrose resident and a Canadian Air Force veteran. He enlisted into the military right after graduating from high school. He always liked planes and wanted to be an aircraft mechanic, but after the aptitude testing he received in basic training, he was placed as an avionics technician servicing aircraft electronic equipment.

Kerry’s military experience was during the Cold War era which was an extreme rivalry between the US and the former Soviet Union which ran from the end of World War II through 1991. The tension between the two nations was primarily fought through political, economic and propaganda fronts. The struggle between capitalism and communism led to an arms race leading to nuclear stockpiles that came close to  nuclear war.

Kerry began his training in the late 1950s and said, “At that time, the Air Force was the leading edge in anything that was being taught.”

After his training in avionics was completed, he spent time working on various Air Force bases in Canada.

During his time in Trenton, ON, the Air Force was building a flight simulator for the CF-104 Starfighters. The Starfighter was a single engine aircraft that carried radar and inertial navigation systems to train pilots going overseas. In 1962, he was sent to CFB Cold Lake for advanced navigation training.

This training is known as the predecessor of what we now know as GPS. Kerry stated, “The technology was so advanced at that time, that it could drop a bomb within 100 metres or less of the actual target.”

In the 1960s, Kerry was posted to a Canadian base in Germany and worked as an advanced avionics technician in an aviation lab. He spent five years on this base repairing the computers that ran the planes.

Kerry commented, “This was in 1963, the height of the Cold War, when Kennedy was assassinated.”
It was during the Cold War that Canadian soldiers were on the ground in Europe in peacekeeping missions. Canadians were well respected in that role.

Kerry explained how there would be 24 Starfighters on duty at any given time. Canada had one plane in the whole squadron loaded with a nuclear bomb. The area was highly restricted and guarded by dogs and military police. There were only three people authorized to be near that plane and it could be ready to go quickly with a specific target.

Kerry mentioned, “That was really scary. What we didn’t know at the time is that we were also a target.”

Throughout this time, security was very tight in Germany and, with the Berlin Wall up, there were many places Canadian military personnel weren’t allowed to go. The base was constructed like a small community with everything that the military personnel needed. They had access to recreational activities like baseball, football and hockey arenas.

Once a year, soldiers were shipped off to Sardinia, a large island in the Mediterranean Sea. The island had a practice bombing range shared by the German, Italian and Canadian air forces. The mission was to monitor planes that were dropping practice bombs.

Kerry said, “It was an interesting time, it was a fun time as we got to see a lot of Europe. It was an experience that has shaped my whole life.”
Camrose United Church celebrates centennial anniversary
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Camrose United Church Centennial Planning Committee put together a beautiful evening. From left, back row, Leon Lohner, Rev. Helen Reed, Ian Crandall, Bonnie Oliver, Jean Brennan, Brian Hunter and Alex Oliver. From left, front row, Louise Crandall, Eileen Hunter and Irene Johnston.

By Adan Shaikh

Camrose United Church celebrated its 100th anniversary on November 1, at the Days Inn Norsemen. Alex Oliver, from the Camrose United Church Centennial Planning Committee, welcomed guests and thanked the committee for helping organize the milestone event.

In addition to celebrating Camrose United Church’s centennial, the United Church of Canada also marked its 100th anniversary this year.

“I chaired the first celebration which recognized the United of Church Canada on June 21 of this year. Eileen and Brian Hunter organized and chaired the planning committee for this second half, to recognize Camrose United Church for its 100th anniversary. Bonnie Oliver, Salva Murphy-Doll, and Louise Crandall planned and organized the decorations for both celebrations. Lillian Lunty, Ardell and Roger Kerr, Julie Smith and Casey Reed, along with the Sunday School children created anniversary banners for the church,” said Oliver, as he recognized all those who helped make the celebration possible.

“Brian Nelson was very successful in organizing and detailing a one-time grant from the United Church of Canada and, as a result of that, we were able to receive $3,000. It is important to note that our own legacy gift fund advanced us $2,000 to get it started and cover planning costs,” continued Oliver. “Thank you also goes to Ruth Ford for organizing the silent auction items and to Justin Kushnerick for assisting with heavy items. Also Brenda and Michael Mucs for helping move items into the hotel. Tyler Osborne is planning a special event and church service in November,” he shared.

Oliver also thanked Central Agencies, Weber’s Funeral Home and Burgar Funeral Home for their ongoing support.

“There is one more table I would like to recognize and that is the Elliot table. Many of us in this room remember fondly, Red and Fran Elliot and their dedication to the Camrose United Church. The Elliot family were involved with Camrose United Church from the time it was founded, Red was one of the first babies baptized in 1926. His mother Josephine Redman wrote a very detailed description of the background and the physical attributes of Camrose United Church and thank you to John Elliot for sharing that material with us. We are working on a booklet, which will include all of that information,” said Oliver.

Guests enjoyed a meal, a fun trivia game about the church’s early history, and music by local performers reflecting the spirit of the early 20th century.

The Camrose United Church was established in 1925 when two Christian denominations–Methodists and Presbyterians–joined forces to create the United Church in Camrose. Since its beginning, the United Church of Canada has remained a welcoming and inclusive space for people of faith.
Christmas at Camrose Heritage Railway Station

By Nadine Leming

It’s an annual tradition for the Camrose Heritage Railway Station to host its Christmas Sale. The dates for this year will run every Friday and Saturday between November 7 to December 13 between 12 noon and 5 p.m. This is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Canadian Northern Society.

Once again this year, people can come browse unique items for themselves or others. You will want to take your time as at every turn there is something to see, whether it’s donated decor, or a handcrafted item from the woodworkers from the Station, there is so much to explore.

While you’re there, don’t forget to take a moment to enjoy train shaped gingerbread cookies and coffee while you enjoy the Christmas decorations and atmosphere.

Funds raised during these Christmas Markets helps them maintain the building and all that they do in restoration. According to Glenys Smith, one of the directors at the museum, “We do this for the community as well. They can come and shop for Christmas at affordable prices for everyone.”

She continued with, “We do this as a contribution back to the community, and that’s important to the Canadian Northern Society. Everything for sale at the markets, with exception of some of the wood carved items by our maintenance people, is donated. We are so thankful to the community for that.”

For more information  on the market, call 780-672-3099 or email canadiannorthern@telus.net. 
Shankar’s 1929 Chevy Rat Rod is a go-kart on steroids
Rat rod
By Adan Shaikh

Vinnie Shankar’s pride and joy is a 1929 Chevrolet rat rod, a low, powerful machine that’s also a work of art with its fully customized body.

“I’ve had it for about eight years. It was once a four-door and it has now been turned into a two-door. It’s been chopped six inches and channeled four inches and that’s what gives it its low stance,” said Shankar, who’s put countless hours into the build with the help of friends and family.

Under the hood sits a 355 GM crate motor, a small-block engine known for its reliability and power.

“The body was already done on it, so me and a group of our hot rod friends, we did the suspension and the motor and front end. The motor is brand new. It has a 700r4 transmission with a 9-inch Ford rear end on it. All the interior work is just tin metal work,” he said.

“Me and my kids, we bought new ceiling panels, and we made them vintage and we kind of incorporated them into the car,” said Shankar, noting that much of the rat rod’s charm comes from personal touches and family involvement.

“The storage trunk is off a Peterbilt, it was off my father’s truck and it had a hole in it and he was going to throw it away, so I cut it up and now I use it for storage and I had my friend airbrush some artwork on it,” he said, pointing to the detailed custom airbrushing that adds a unique flair to the vehicle.

“I had it painted last year, it’s now flat black, and changed up the tail lights on it. I try to do something different on it every year just so that I don’t get bored of it and sell it. Next I’m going to do disc brakes in the front, right now it has drum brakes all the way around but that’s all I have planned for next year,” he commented.

“The best way to describe this car is that it’s a go-kart on steroids, so it’s got lots of power. It’s very light, so to stop it you need to get good brakes. Right now it’s drums all the way around. It still stops fairly decent, but I mean, I’d like something a little bit more reliable,” he explained.

The rat rod isn’t just for show. It’s been driven to Drumheller, Camrose and Rocky Mountain House.
“We’ve taken it to Drumheller, we did a cruise out to Camrose, we’ve gone to Rocky Mountain House, local shows and stuff like that. It’s deceiving looking because it looks like it’s choppy in the way it rides, but it’s actually quite comfortable,” said Shankar.

“We’ve got gel cushion seats inside here and my friend did the metal work for the seats,” he added.
For Shankar, the car is not only a fun project but its a reflection of his own personality.

“This car is a reflection of who I am. It is unique and the thing about a rat rod is you can basically do anything with it, there’s no right or wrong with it. You just modify it as you like. This will get passed on generations to come, my kids will have it, and hopefully they pass it on,” he said.

Changing Ways raises awareness for
Family Violence Prevention Month


By Adan Shaikh

November is Family Violence Prevention Month (FVPM). During this month local organizations work to raise awareness the challenges that our community faces when it comes to violence and how it can be prevented.

“We are hosting a Crafting for Change event. It is going to be at the Field House on November 21, from 1 to 6 p.m.,” said Abby Ness, program coordinator at Camrose and District Family and Community Support Services  (FCSS)–Changing Ways.

“There will be some Christmas crafts, glitter tattoos, sensory activities for little ones, origami, cookies and raffle prizes. We just want to get families out for a fun day, where they can enjoy but also learn about family violence,” said Abby.

Another event that Changing Ways Camrose will be hosting is a webinar on technology facilitated violence. For this, Changing Ways will be partnering with the Camrose Women’s Shelter and Association of Communities Against Abuse (ACAA). This two hour, virtual event will be beneficial for children, youth and parents alike. “Social media has become a lot more present in our daily lives, especially for the younger generations, so in this webinar they can learn how to stay safe online and signs of how violence can occur in an online format,” said Abby.

“We met and discussed between the three agencies about which trends were we seeing, what concerns were we hearing, and not only from parents, but teens themselves. When we put our heads together, technology facilitated violence was a theme there,” shared Abby.

“Tech violence can spectrum all the way from cyber-bullying to texting, especially on platforms like Discord, YouTube and even TikTok. If you look up men’s mental health on YouTube a lot of disturbing content shows up. Our teens, especially boys, are being fed this unhealthy content on what it means to be a man, and we want to make sure they know what is healthy and what is not,” she continued.
Abby hopes that the webinar will open conversations between families to discuss these trends and their impacts openly and honestly. “This is not something that people are really talking about or something that is being brought up in the way that it should be,” said Abby.

“I feel that it is a disconnect in our community, where parents have simply accepted that the kids are on their devices and the parents are on their own devices and that is normal. But we need to open communication with each other and know what our children are consuming on their devices. We need to have talks about the dangers but also the positive things that can happen on the devices,” added Daneille Ostafichuk, program manager of Family Services at FCSS.

The webinar Exploring Tech-Facilitated Violence will take place online on November 26 at 10 a.m. To register, visit tinyurl.com/2x5ta6p7

If you or someone you know may be experiencing family violence, reach out to FCSS at 780-672-0141 or contact the Camrose Women’s Shelter at 780-672-1035 or access their 24-hour crisis line at
1-877-672-1010.
Bonnie

Reflections

By Bonnie Hutchinson
 
Lest We Forget – and What We Remember
 
For many years, I wished Remembrance Day would go away. I thought it was a day that glorified war and I did not want to do that.

Some background. I am the child of a man who, during World War II, enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

I was a toddler when my dad was posted to England. My mom, baby brother and I moved back to my mom’s parents’ home.

I remember helping to prepare parcels that my mother and grandmother sent “to Daddy overseas.”

I have a later snippet of memory, at about four years old, standing in my grandmother’s kitchen, looking up at a tall man wearing a black leather jacket. Someone was saying, “This is your daddy.”

No, I did not remember him from before he left.

***
 
Fast forward. After the war, our family expanded with another girl and boy. We moved to a home of our own. I grew up, left home, married and had children. My children grew up and left home.

And now my daughter was getting married.

My daughter’s husband-to-be was born and grew up in Ontario and moved to Alberta as an adult. His parents had come to Canada after World War II – from Germany. Yes, his father had been a German soldier.

During the war, my dad and his younger brother both enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and were both posted to England. They flew.

During the war, my daughter’s soon-to-be father-in-law had worked on German crews that manned anti-aircraft artillery.

If they had known one another, my dad and uncle would have been enemies of my daughter’s soon-to-be father-in-law, and vice versa. For all three of them, the essence of their wartime job was to kill one another while staying alive themselves.

***
 
My daughter did not want any nasty surprises at her wedding. She wanted to make sure her grandpa was not startled when he learned that the man she was marrying was the son of a former German soldier who worked on anti-aircraft artillery.

She called her grandpa to see if she could visit him. Of course he said, “Yes.”

When my daughter came home from the visit, she was quiet.

I did not want to be a nosy interfering mother. But finally, I couldn’t stand it.

“What did Grandpa say?” I asked, not nearly as casually as I would have liked.

She replied, “Grandpa said, ‘Well, we all did what we thought was the right thing to do.’” I was proud of my dad.

***
 
November 11 is called Remembrance Day for a reason. Originally, the idea was to remember the terrible cruelty and insanity of war – and do everything in our power to prevent it. Also, to remember and honour what our military veterans have done in service to their country – up to and including risking and sometimes losing their lives.
Today being Remembrance Day, what I most want to remember are these words that help to de-fuse judgment, hatred, and the potential for more war-mongering.

“Well, we all did what we thought was the right thing to do.”

The image I most want to remember is this one from my daughter’s wedding day:

Two old warhorses, two war veterans – one a former Canadian airman, the other a former German soldier – arms around each other’s shoulders, drinking toasts to the wedding of their young ones.

Today on Remembrance Day, that is what I most want to remember. Those words and that image give me hope for our future.

***
 
We don’t have peace on earth, but we do at least have absence of war in our country. On this Remembrance Day, I am profoundly grateful that none of my male relatives – brother, son, son-in-law, grandson nor great-grandson – are ever likely to have to go to war. Lest we forget.
 
***

I’d love to hear from you. If you have comments about this column or suggestions for future topics, e-mail Bonnie@BonnieHutchinson.com. I’ll happily reply within one business day.
Laurel nadon 2019
Homespun By Laurel Nadon

Homespun

By Laurel Nadon

Hold the torch high
 
When I was 18, I saw the movie Saving Private Ryan in theatre while on a first date with my husband. It was the story of the search for Private Ryan (inspired by a true story) as his two brothers had already been killed in action and a third was missing; the mission was to bring him home safely to ensure his mother didn’t receive a fourth notification. It was definitely a war movie; the opening scenes showed landing craft full of men arriving on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, and I vividly recall that the soldiers started throwing up as they approached the beach. The movie was intense, loud, and bloody (and so scary that we had to hold hands.)

The movie definitely got the point across that war was terrifying. Movies like this are one way to help people, who maybe don’t know anyone who has fought in a war, to picture the horrors of war in the hopes that the next generation will do all they can to prevent a battle of that scale.

That’s what Remembrance Day is – a time to remember and honour those who serve. I don’t know anyone personally who has experienced war, but I think it’s incredibly important that we take time to reflect in November and pause for a few minutes of silence on Nov. 11. It’s vital to be grateful to the people who came before us and lost their lives so that we can live in Canada with the freedoms that we have.

A few years ago, I read several World War II books based on real events. They were fascinating, but also a really heavy subject.

I read enough to know that people in Russia ate their leather shoes to ward off starvation; that people went to extraordinary measures to evacuate and save children; and that it was a time of great sacrifice, for the loved ones at home as well. Remembrance Day isn’t just to reflect on the two world wars, but all conflicts that have involved Canadian soldiers.

After college, I worked for several years as the editor of The Nanton News, where I photographed the Remembrance Day ceremony each year, held outdoors at the cenotaph war memorial. The service was touching and somber, local veterans standing tall in uniform, and proud to be there remembering. I began to ask these veterans to share their memories with the paper, and we would print their stories in the weeks leading up to November 11. As I watched them lead the ceremony, I worried about how to preserve their stories and legacy – seeing someone in person who has lived through war makes it so much more personal. It’s not just from the history books then.

The poppy has become a well-known symbol that often helps with remembrance – especially when you see it on someone else’s jacket in November and feel a flood of embarrassment if you don’t have a poppy on yours as well. The poppy grew prolifically in disturbed earth on World War I battlefields in Europe. Dormant seeds were brought to the surface to germinate, fueled by the extra nitrogen in the soil from explosions and the lime from rubble. The blood red colour as well as being included in the poem In Flanders Fields has led to the poppy being an internationally recognized symbol of fallen soldiers. It’s a simple way to draw our thoughts to the somber season.

We are warned about forgetting the hardships of war through the famous poem In Flanders Fields written by John McCrae in 1915, where it reads that, “to you, from failing hands we throw the torch; be yours to hold it high.”

The poem For the Fallen by Robert Laurence Binyon, written in 1914, also speaks of remembrance: “They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.”

The phrase “Lest We Forget” has become synonymous with remembrance. In the poem Recessional, written in 1897 by Rudyard Kipling, he writes: “God of our fathers, known of old, Lord of our far-flung battle-line, beneath whose awful hand we hold. Dominion over palm and pine – Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, lest we forget – lest we forget!”

Interestingly, his poem isn’t about war – it was written for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, almost 20 years before the start of World War I. The poem is a warning about national pride and the impermanence of imperial power versus the permanence of God. However, the phrase “Lest We Forget” is often used at Remembrance Day ceremonies, transformed into an inspirational call to remember battle hardships and sacrifices.

Whether we are at a Remembrance Day ceremony or observing a moment of silence in our homes, let’s hold up the torch of remembrance this November 11.