Ontario Premier Doug Ford paid tribute to veterans as Remembrance Day was marked across the province.
The provincial government held a ceremony Saturday morning at the Ontario Veterans’ Memorial near the provincial legislature.
“These heroes, who made the ultimate sacrifice, defended our values on the front lines of world wars, international conflicts and peacekeeping missions,” Ford said in a statement.
“They bravely went into the danger zone so that others didn’t have to. We owe them a debt of gratitude that we can never repay.”
Ford also pointed to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine and said he was praying for “lasting peace” around the world.
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles thanked serving soldiers and veterans in a post on social media.
“I want to express my deep gratitude for the sacrifice and bravery of those in Ontario’s service,” she said.
Ontario Liberal Leader John Fraser attended a memorial service in Ottawa.
The Remembrance Day services come as defense leaders have spent much of the past year warning the world of unprecedented security threats amid ongoing conflict.
This year also saw thousands of Canadian Armed Forces troops deployed to combat domestic disasters, including the historic wildfires that left a trail of destruction from coast to coast.
— with files from Sean Previl of Global News
&Copy 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
“Pop culture fanatic. Introvert. Devoted food trailblazer. Bacon geek. Lifelong coffee evangelist.”