By Jasmine Makar
Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) held its annual Remembrance Day ceremony in Kerr Hall Quad on Monday.
The ceremony included a moment of silence, a reading of In Flanders Fields and a live performance of The Last Post. President Mohamed Lachemi and Provost & Vice-President, Academic Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano were present and both spoke at the event.
The ceremony began promptly at 10:45 a.m. with a brief speech from Vice-President of Equity and Community Inclusion Tanya De Mello reflecting on the human cost of war.
“When I’m thinking of a day like this, what I want to focus on is the cost of these wars, the loss of human life, the devastation of communities and the fact that even if you win a war, everybody loses.” she said. “Remembrance Day also needs to be a time to pause and honour the sacrifices of those who have served and continue to serve in our country.”
She also acknowledged the individuals that have gone to war are amongst the “most marginalized in our community.” De Mello highlighted that the marginalized groups who served include people from lower income communities, racialized, Black and Indigenous veterans.
Iannacito-Provenzano continued the ceremony by describing Remembrance Day as “a time to honour those who sacrificed their lives for our freedoms and to reflect on the profound and lasting impact of war.”
She further emphasized the importance of learning from the past and highlighted the “invisible wounds” and trauma many veterans experienced after returning from war.
“By learning about the sacrifices made, we can foster a more compassionate and equitable society,” said Iannacito-Provenzano.
After her remarks, Iannacito-Provenzano, De Mello and Lachemi laid out three wreaths on behalf of the TMU faculty, administration, staff and students. This was followed by a performance of The Last Post and a moment of silence.
Lachemi addressed the TMU community, bringing specific attention to Canadians and their part in the Second World War as well as the current conflicts around the world.
“I encourage you to hold the place in your heart for all those affected by wars and conflicts around the world yesterday and today,” said Lachemi. “Pay tribute to those who volunteered, those who served and those who died, also to those who are suffering today.”
“By learning about the sacrifices made, we can foster a more compassionate and equitable society”
Lachemi’s comments about recent and ongoing wars outside of Canada were reiterated by Iannacito-Provenzano earlier in the ceremony.
“Today, we still see conflicts around the world that echo the struggles of the past, from wars beyond our borders and in battlefields to the many voices still silenced by inequity,” she said.
De Mello concluded the ceremony with a poem reading of In Flanders Fields and a choral arrangement of O’ Canada.
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