Mayor Steele with Port Colborne Legion representatives

Port Colborne will be remembering with two Remembrance Day ceremonies on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022:

  • Join the city and Port Colborne Branch 56 of the Royal Canadian Legion in H.H. Knoll Lakeview Park at the City of Port Colborne Cenotaph for WWI, WWII, Korea, and Afghanistan at 10:30 a.m. The Legion is also extending an open invitation afterwards for a light lunch at 12 p.m. at their branch on 67 Clarence Street. The ceremony will be recorded and aired on the city’s YouTube channel, social media sites, and website later in the day. In the event of inclement weather in the forecast, the ceremony will occur upstairs of the Port Colborne Branch 56 of the Royal Canadian Legion, 67 Clarence Street.
    UPDATE: Due to inclement weather, the ceremony will occur at the Port Colborne Legion, 67 Clarence Street.
  • Join the city and St. John's Lutheran Church at the Township of Humberstone Cenotaph, 2767 Vimy Rd, Port Colborne, ON L3K 5V3 for WWI, WWII and Korea in Cedar Bay Centennial Park at 10:45 a.m. for a Remembrance Day ceremony.

In partnership with Jim Tummillo Masonry Inc, city staff had the Township of Humberstone Cenotaph flagpole refurbished in advance of the Nov. 11 ceremony.

This time of the year when our gardens begin to fade there is always one flower that continues to bloom in our hearts: the Poppy. With its fine stem and delicate petals, the Poppy remains an enduring symbol of strength and remembrance. Residents are encouraged to support the Poppy campaign. Every year, from the last Friday of October to Nov. 11, tens of millions of Canadians wear a Poppy as a visual pledge to honour Canada’s Veterans and remember those who sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy today. Donations collected during the Poppy campaign, beginning Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, are held in trust at the branch level to directly support Veterans and their families within their community and to help ensure Canadians never forget.

Port Colborne’s Historical & Marine Museum will once again install a display of handmade Poppies along the property’s perimeter. To honour the Poppy, the Museum Gift Shop has also selected many commemorative items including lapel pins, bracelets, birdfeeders, toques, and totes.

On Nov. 3, 2022, at 7 p.m. the L.R. Wilson Archives Speaker Series presents, HMCS Humberstone and HMCS Port Colborne: Local Namesakes in the Royal Canadian Navy. The presentation will share the history of these Second World War Royal Canadian Navy vessels, named for our local communities, and highlights some of the artifacts in the Museum’s collection. For more information, including to pre-register, call 905-834-7604 or email archives@portcolborne.ca.

The Port Colborne Public Library is hosting a painting class Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., featuring the Poppy, titled “where the Poppies grow”. In this acrylic painting workshop, an idyllic autumn sky lies behind a field full of vibrant red poppies. While creating an Autumn landscape, participants will gain an understanding of how brushwork and use of colour can create texture, movement, and contrast. The fee for the class is $15 and pre-registration is required by calling the library at 905-834-6512. Starting Nov. 1, 2022, visit the library to pick up free Veterans’ Affairs educational bookmarks and newsletters. Patrons may also select from a display of adult fiction books called “A November to Remember” with books inspired by the World Wars, love stories, and the resiliency of the human spirit.

A reminder that municipal administrative offices, including the Roselawn Centre and Port Colborne Public Library, will be closed Friday, Nov. 11 to observe Remembrance Day. The Vale Health & Wellness Centre and Port Colborne Historical & Marine Museum will remain open operating regular business hours. Administrative offices will re-open Monday, Nov. 14 at 8:30 a.m. Residents requiring our Public Works department can call 905-835-2900 and press ‘9’ to reach the after-hours dispatch. Alternatively, if it is not a public works emergency, residents can submit a service request using our online form at www.portcolborne.ca/requestaservice.