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Shelburne Free Press | November 11, 2025

As Nov. 11 approaches, the Shelburne Legion Branch 220 is preparing for its 2025 Remembrance Day ceremonies.

It’s been over 100 years since the end of the First World War, which effectively came to a close on Nov. 11, 1918, with the signing of the armistice. 

It’s been 80 years since the end of the Second World War, which concluded in 1945. It has been 72 years since the end of the Korean War, which ended in 1953. 

Since then, Canada has fought in a myriad of other conflicts, from the Gulf War in 1991 to the Global War on Terror in 2003, and the War in Afghanistan, which ended in 2014.

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 220 in Shelburne has multiple services planned throughout the day.

Pastor Gord Horsley, who has been organizing the services for the last 18 years, said there are multiple events taking place throughout the day.

“On Tuesday, Nov. 11, we have two services at the Legion,” he said. “One is in the Legion, at 9:30 [a.m.], and we will have some speakers. The mayor will be there to speak. Normally, we’ll have the MP and the MPP, but they won’t be joining us until the banquet [Veteran’s Dinner] later.”

Following this, Captain Diane Powers from the #164 Air Cadets in Shelburne will have a video presentation to be screened.

After the video, Horsley said that the attention will shift to the Cenotaph in front of Shelburne Town Hall. 

“We’ll be marching down to the Cenotaph from the Legion at about 11 o’clock,” Horsley said. “We will be doing a wreath ceremony, and people from the community will be bringing wreaths with them. They’ll bring them up and place them at the Cenotaph and memorial of a veteran.”

Later in the evening, the Legion's doors will open for a Veterans’ Dinner. Cocktails will be served at 5:30 p.m., with dinner served at 6 p.m. There will be a number of guests in attendance.

“Neil Orford will be our guest speaker,” Horsley said. “We’ll have the MP and MPPs there, so Kyle Seeback and Sylvia Jones, respectively. The mayor will also be joining us.”

Neil Orford is a historian and retired educator with the Upper Grand District School Board. He also pioneered teaching the innovative and award-winning 'Digital Historian Project.' 

He said that Remembrance Day and VE Day are important times to remember the strong bonds formed with the Netherlands during World War II and to remember the intergenerational stories shared by veterans.

“It’s the 80th anniversary of victory in Europe this year, and we celebrate the bonds of friendship between the Canadian and Dutch peoples, with us being the liberators of the Dutch,” he said. “The 80th anniversary might be the final chance to really acknowledge the significance of that liberation and the stories that are associated with the men and women who were there.”

He continued by saying that we don’t have many WWII veterans left, and the opportunity to learn directly from their experience is fading. Most, if not all, are over 100 years old. Most are unable to travel either, further reducing the number who can share their stories.

Orford said that it’s extremely important to learn from their stories and to remember the foundations and principles upon which Canada stands. He said that it's important younger generations learn of these events, and hopes that schools continue to dedicate time to remembrance. 

“Every time we hold a ceremony, the number of [WWII] veterans, of course, is diminishing,” he said. “It’s important that Remembrance Day isn’t a day off, to use it as a day not just to remember, but to educate, now that time has elapsed to the point that stories are harder and harder to share intergenerationally,”

“I’m glad that Branch 220 is taking the opportunity to share these stories on Remembrance Day, Orford added.

For more info and updates on the Remembrance Day services, follow the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 220 on Facebook at facebook.com/br220.shelburne. 

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