Royal Roads Remembrance Day Service

Join Royal Roads University, the Vancouver Island Ex-Cadet Club and CFB Esquimalt for a Remembrance Day ceremony at 10:40 a.m. on the Castle Terrace Lawn outside Hatley Castle.

Following the ceremony, at about 11:45 a.m., Dr. Geoffrey Bird, RRU professor and lead of the War Heritage Research Initiative, will present two of his documentary films, Trees of Remembrance: Shelbourne Memorial Avenue and War Memorials and Their Makers: Messengers of Meaning. Please note, the films are not suitable for children under 13 years old. This 45-minute presentation will be held on the Quarterdeck in the Grant Building.

The museum and exhibits, located in the lower level of Hatley Castle, will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Habitat Café will offer light refreshments for purchase from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

Documentary screening

Trees of Remembrance (23 mins) tells the story of the London Plane Trees planted along Shelbourne Avenue in the 1920s to commemorate Victoria’s fallen in the First World War. Nearly forgotten, the efforts of individuals are highlighted in protecting this heritage, along with reflections on the power of trees as war memorials.

War Memorials and Their Makers (15 min) focuses on three sculptors and the power of their work in conveying the human experience in the First World War.