Amidst the ceremonies and sombre minutes of silence throughout the West Shore this Remembrance Day, the 7th Juan de Fuca Scout Group is making sure that the next generation remembers the sacrifice Canadian soldiers made almost a century ago.
“It’s very youth driven,” says scout group commissioner Donna Armstrong.
“It’s about the little Beavers who are five to seven years old that need to know what Remembrance Day is all about.”
Most of the youth and leadership come from the military or military-based families, she says.
The scouts begin marching from John Stubbs elementary at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Uniformed and with flags in hand, they make their way to the Juan de Fuca cenotaph at West Shore Parks and Recreation to begin the ceremony at about 10:45.
“When everything is all over, we give everybody the opportunity to lay their poppies on the cenotaph,” says Armstrong. “The entire cenotaph is covered in poppies. It’s quite the sight.”
The cenotaph is located just outside the Juan de Fuca 55-plus Activity Centre across from the bus exchange at 1767 Old Island Hwy. and everyone is welcome to join.
For more information, visit 7thjuandefuca.ca, or email groupcommissioner@7thjuandefuca.ca.
acowan@goldstreamgazette.com