On Parliament Hill

I encourage all residents to join me in honouring and commemorating the courage, service and sacrifice of Canada’s Veterans this Veterans’ Week.

Veterans’ Week is a time to remember the bravery of the members of the Canadian Armed Forces during the many battles that helped shape our country and world into what we know today.

2016 is an important year in Canadian military history. It’s the 100th anniversary of two very important battles – the battle of the Somme and the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel. Many Canadians lost their lives in these battles. And they were instrumental in the lead-up to what would be the end result of WWI.

2017 will also mark many important milestones, including the 100th anniversaries of the Battles of Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele, as well as the 75th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid.

On Remembrance Day, communities across our great country will gather around cenotaphs and war memorials to honour our men and women in uniform and the sacrifices they have made and will continue to make.

Their unwavering bravery has made all Canadians proud. That these brave citizens would put themselves on the line to defend our freedom, human rights, democracy and the rule of law is most honourable. It’s a debt of gratitude we can never repay.

And of course we pause to honour those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice.

With this in mind, I hope you will join me in attending one of the many Remembrance Day ceremonies that will be taking place across Provencher on November 11th.