Aiming to ensure that Sherbrooke will carry out the act of remembrance this year, even if the situation with COVID-19 becomes more dire, a number of local groups came together on Sunday afternoon to remember the fallen through a ceremony held nearly a month earlier than normal. Held in the Saint-Michel cathedral, the invitation-only event was recorded in order to later be broadcast in the month of November on the MaTV network and online.
Among those groups who sent representatives to participate were the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada, the Royal Canadian Legion, and Sherbrooke’s reserve units, as well as a number of service organizations. Sherbrooke MP Élisabeth Brière and Mayor Steve Lussier were also present in person, along with a representative of the office of Saint-Francois MNA Geneviève Hébert.
Due to the restrictions on gathering and the requirements of social distancing, only around 50 people were present for the ceremony, although all of the traditional
parts of the Remembrance Day service were able to go ahead with slight modifications. Most strikingly, all wreaths were laid in advance and left untouched throughout, with representatives of each group only stepping forward to salute.
