Remembrance Day in Toronto: Ceremonies, road closures, what’s open and closed

Canadians marked Remembrance Day on Tuesday by honouring those who served in the military, those who didn’t make it home and those who continue to serve.

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians paused for two minutes of silence.

The temperature was below normal for the outdoor ceremonies on Tuesday, with a high near 4 C.

While Remembrance Day is not a statutory holiday in Ontario, it is for federal workers, which means some regular services will not be available. Scroll below for what’s open and closed.

Remembrance Day ceremonies in Toronto

Prospect Cemetery

The 97th annual sunrise service was held at 8 a.m. at Prospect Cemetery (1450 St. Clair Ave. W.)

City of Toronto ceremonies

Ceremonies were held at the following locations (those attending the services are asked to arrive by 10:45 a.m.):

• Cenotaph at Old City Hall (60 Queen St. W.)
• Memorial Gardens at East York Civic Centre (850 Coxwell Ave.)
• Cenotaph at Etobicoke Civic Centre (399 The West Mall)
• York Cemetery Cenotaph in North York (160 Beecroft Rd.)
• Scarborough War Memorial (2190 Kingston Rd.)
• York Civic Centre Cenotaph (2700 Eglinton Ave. W.)

The Fort York National Historic Site held a ceremony at 10:40 a.m. Guided tours will also be held throughout the day for those who want to learn more about Toronto’s military history.

Queen’s Park

A ceremony was held in front of the Ontario Legislative Building starting at 10:45 a.m.

Royal Canadian Legion

Several branches of the Royal Canadian Legion hosted Remembrance Day ceremonies in Toronto, across Canada and around the world. Click here to locate one in your community.

RCAF Foundation

The RCAF Foundation held a ceremony at 10:40 a.m. at the William G. Barker VC Monument located at Mount Pleasant Cemetery Mausoleum (375 Mount Pleasant Rd.)

A sunset ceremony will also be held at 4:50 p.m. and after, attendees can visit the mausoleum to see William G. Barker VC’s resting place and view historic photos. Click here for more information.

U of T Soldiers’ Tower

A Service of Remembrance took place at 10:30 a.m. at the Soldiers’ Tower on Hart House Circle at University of Toronto’s downtown campus. Ahead of the service, at 10:10 a.m., 51 bells of the carillon rang for a recital.

Sunnybrook Health Science Centre

A Service of Remembrance was held at 10:15 a.m. at Sunnybrook, which is home to Canada’s largest veterans’ care facility, located at 2075 Bayview Ave. Weather permitting, fly-pasts were planned by the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association following the ceremony.

Toronto Zoo

The Toronto Zoo marked the solemn day with a 10:55 a.m. ceremony at the Waterside Theatre.

The Zoo says veterans in uniform (or with medals, crests or other military affiliation insignia) and serving members in uniform of the Armed Forces, police, fire and Paramedics Services will receive complimentary Zoo admission and parking. Members of the public who attend can get 50 per cent off the price of admission.

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Road closures

Old City Hall Cenotaph ceremony

The following road closures will be in effect starting around 10 a.m.:

• Queen Street West will be closed between York Street and Bay Street, with local traffic access to City Hall underground parking
• Bay Street will be closed from Dundas Street West to Richmond Street West, with local traffic access only from Dundas Street

Queen’s Park ceremony

The following road closure will be in effect starting around 9:30 a.m.:

• Wellesley Street West will be closed between Queen’s Park Crescent East and Queen’s Park Crescent West

What’s open and closed on Remembrance Day

The TTC will run on a regular schedule. Buses, streetcars and subways will pause for two minutes at 11 a.m. as a remembrance tribute. The transit agency says all current members of the Canadian Armed Forces in uniform, as well as war and peacekeeping veterans wearing military service medals or ribbons, along with one companion, can ride its vehicles free of charge on Remembrance Day.

GO Transit will operate on a regular schedule. The transit agency says veterans and members of the Canadian Armed Forces, along with one companion, as well as family members of deceased veterans, can ride GO Transit and UP Express for free on Remembrance Day. When travelling today, riders are being asked to wear or carry something identifiable, such as a medal, beret, blazer, uniform, Veteran’s Service Card or a Canadian Military Service ID.

Grocery stores and pharmacies will operate at regular hours.

Shopping malls like the Eaton Centre, Yorkdale Mall, Dufferin Mall, Pacific Mall, Square One, Scarborough Town Centre, Fairview Mall, Vaughan Mills, Upper Canada Mall, and Sherway Gardens will all be open at normal hours.

Below is what’s closed in Toronto on Tuesday

• LCBO and Beer Store locations will be closed in the morning and open at noon
• Canada Post won’t be delivering or collecting mail
• All major banks will be closed for in-person services but ATMs will be open
• Federal government services and offices will be closed