The South Peace Regional Archives and Grande Prairie Museum have partnered with the Wapiti Meadows District of Girl Guides of Canada to create a poppy bunting display, which will be up up in the Military section of the main exhibit gallery for the month of November (Photo: South Peace Regional Archives)

By Shane Clausing

Remembrance Day

Legion, others carrying on with altered Remembrance Day plans

Nov 10, 2020 | 12:35 PM

Remembrance Day is being marked around Grande Prairie on Wednesday.

Many events will be held at a distance to comply with the Province of Alberta’s COVID-19 guidelines.

This year’s event from the Grande Prairie Legion will be live streamed on Facebook and take place at the Legion Hall instead of Revolution Place.

“We have our Chaplin who is going to be doing our ceremony like he does every year,” explained Bobbie VanGrup, the Legion Secretary for Grande Prairie. “He’ll be doing his prayers and as far as anyone doing speeches goes, the only one who will be doing any kind of speech will the President of the Legion and we will be playing the music throughout the whole ceremony.”

VanGrup tells EverythingGP that all of the proper social distancing and COVID-19 protocols and guidelines are in place.

Those interested in watching the live stream and encouraged to log onto the Legion’s Facebook page at 10:30 a.m. and from there the ceremony will get underway and will last until just after 11:00 a.m.

While residents can’t gather together this year to reflect and remember, VanGrup says there are still ways that residents in the Swan City can pay their respects.

“There is the Veterans Memorial Park over behind the (ANAVETS Hall) and there’s the outdoor cenotaph just outside the courthouse (across from Tim Hortons on 100 Street). If anybody want’s to go out and pay their respects after the ceremonies are done, they are more than welcome to do so.”

The Legion is also hoping that Grande Prairie residents can help a final late push for the poppy campaign. While the Legion says that won’t know the exact total for how much they raised until next week, it is important to help support those who have served.

“We are almost out of poppies. Text POPPY4GP to 20222 and you can donate as little as you want or as much as you want. Anything over $25 they’ll send you a charitable receipt.”

The Grande Prairie Museum and South Peace Regional Archives are also continuing with their plans.

The two have teamed up to put up their annual display. The display will be set-up in the Military section of the main exhibit gallery throughout the month of November. The Museum is open on Remembrance Day from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

This organizations have also partnered with the Wapiti Meadows District of Girl Guides Canada to create a poppy bunting display.

The Archives and Museum staff have created what it call an “instant meeting kit” for unity containing locally-focused remembrance activities. The activities include craft supplies provided from the Museum. The organizations say that nearly 200 members aged 5-17 have already signed up to take part.