Remembrance Day 2026 ceremonies across the capital region (Wed, Nov 11)

Remembrance Day falls on a Wednesday this year. Communities across the capital region gather at their cenotaphs that morning, and at 11 a.m. there are two minutes of silence. These are the ceremonies with 2026 details posted by the municipality or the organiser. Where a community hasn't posted yet, we say so below and will add it when it does.

They're outdoors, so dress for standing in November weather, and plan to arrive a little early.

Victoria: the Legislature

Victoria's ceremony is at the provincial cenotaph on the Legislature grounds, facing the Inner Harbour. The Victoria Remembrance Day Committee Poppy Fund, which organises it, lists the service from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

The City of Victoria hadn't posted its 2026 road closures or parking arrangements when we checked on November 3. Look at the City's news page before you go. We'll add the details here once they're posted.

Source: Victoria Remembrance Day Committee Poppy Fund.

Saanich

Saanich's ceremony is at the Saanich Cenotaph outside Municipal Hall, 770 Vernon Avenue. The District's ceremony page gives 10:40 to 11:45 a.m. Its events calendar says 10:45, so aim to be there by 10:40.

Saanich has posted the most practical detail of anyone this year:

• Seating: limited, and mostly kept for people laying wreaths. You're welcome to bring your own chair.
• Accessibility: the closest accessible parking is in the Annex lot, and there's an accessible ramp and paved paths. Municipal Hall itself is closed that day, so plan for washrooms at the businesses nearby.
• Parking: in the Municipal Hall lot, reached from Vernon Avenue or Darwin Avenue. There are bike racks in three spots.
• Bus: routes 32, 70, 71, 72 and 75 stop at Vernon Avenue and Ravine Way, and the 26, 26A and 26B stop on Saanich Road at Darwin Avenue.
• Road: one lane of Vernon Avenue is closed during the ceremony.

It goes ahead rain or shine. Leashed, well-behaved dogs and service animals are welcome. The Greater Victoria Pipe Band plays, and a bugler sounds the Last Post.

Source: District of Saanich.

Central Saanich

Central Saanich gathers at the Cenotaph at HEL,HILEȻ, 1209 Clarke Road in Brentwood Bay, at 10:50 a.m. Afterwards the District invites everyone to the West Saanich Schoolhouse at HEL,HILEȻ for refreshments. The Log Cabin Museum, 7910 Polo Park Crescent in Saanichton, is open from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Source: District of Central Saanich.

Colwood

The Colwood Cenotaph stands in the Garry Oak grove outside Juan de Fuca Arena, at West Shore Parks and Recreation, 1767 Island Highway. The City lists the gathering from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Local Scouts march over from John Stubbs School for a small ceremony at about 10:45, with a moment of silence at 11.

Source: City of Colwood.

Sooke

In Sooke the parade leaves Evergreen Shopping Centre at 10:35 a.m. and follows Highway 14, Otter Point Road and Shields Road to the Sooke Legion Cenotaph, 6726 Eustace Road, arriving at about 10:55. The service begins at 11. The Legion holds an open house afterwards, from about 11:30.

Expect short stops in traffic on Highway 14, Otter Point Road and Shields Road between about 10:35 and 11 a.m. The District suggests walking, cycling, taking the bus or sharing a ride if you can.

Source: District of Sooke.

Still to be confirmed

These communities hadn't posted 2026 ceremony details on their own sites when we checked on November 3. We'll add each one here once they do.

• Esquimalt. Last year the Township's ceremony was at Memorial Park on Esquimalt Road, with the Royal Canadian Navy taking part. This year's time is to be confirmed: check the Township's news page.
• Oak Bay. Last year the District's ceremony was at the Cenotaph on the 2900 block of Beach Drive. Its event page still shows last year's details, so this year's time is to be confirmed: check the District's news page.
• Sidney. The Town's Remembrance Day page describes a parade from the Mary Winspear Centre to the Cenotaph on Sidney Avenue, with a fly past during the silence. The page doesn't say which year its times are for, so we're treating them as to be confirmed.
• Langford. Time to be confirmed. The City's site wasn't loading when we checked: langford.ca.
• Metchosin, View Royal, North Saanich and the Highlands. Times to be confirmed on each municipality's site.
• The Juan de Fuca area and the Southern Gulf Islands. Times to be confirmed with the local Legion branch.

Buses

BC Transit hadn't posted any Remembrance Day service changes for 2026 when we checked on November 3. Look at bctransit.com/victoria before you set out.

If you can't be there

The national ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa starts at about 7:30 a.m. our time (10:30 a.m. in Ottawa). The Royal Canadian Legion streams it live on its Facebook page, and the national news networks carry it on TV. Wherever you are at 11 a.m., you can still keep the two minutes of silence.

Source: The Royal Canadian Legion.

Wearing a poppy

The Legion asks that the poppy be worn on the left side, over the heart, from October 24 until November 11. Some people take it off at the end of the day on the 11th. Others leave it on the cenotaph or a wreath after the ceremony.

Source: The Royal Canadian Legion.