Wasaga Beach Invites Community to Gather for Remembrance Day Service

WASAGA BEACH, ON – The Town of Wasaga Beach invites residents to gather at the Cenotaph at Town Hall on Wednesday, November 11, for the community’s annual Remembrance Day Service.

The ceremony will bring together veterans, families, community organizations and residents to honour those who served, remember those who gave their lives and recognize those who continue to serve today.

As part of this year’s commemoration, the Town will also unveil five new veteran banners. Displayed along River Road West each November, the banners honour local veterans and help share their stories of service with the community.

“Remembrance Day is a time for our community to stand together and honour the courage, service and sacrifice of those who served our country,” said Mayor Brian Smith. “When we gather at the Cenotaph and share the stories of our local veterans, we are doing more than remembering the past — we are making sure their legacy lives on and that future generations understand the freedoms their service helped protect.”

Remembrance Day Service

📅Wednesday, November 11, 2026
🕐10:30 AM
📍Cenotaph at Town Hall, 30 Lewis Street

Five New Veteran Banners

This year, the Town will unveil banners honouring:

• Donnie Bishop – Sergeant, Canadian Armed Forces, served nearly 19 years with the Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force, including deployments to Bosnia and Afghanistan.
• Ross Harbridge – Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class, Royal Canadian Navy, served more than 25 years, including aboard HMCS Toronto, Iroquois and Fredericton, and in NATO assignments in Canada and the United States.
• Alexander Norman (Dutch) Holland – Sergeant, Royal Canadian Air Force, served during the Second World War with 82 Squadron and was awarded the Air Crew Europe Star.
• George Eldridge – Canadian Armed Forces veteran with more than 20 years of service, including two tours in Afghanistan and deployments to the Philippines, Latvia and Ukraine, as well as domestic flood-response operations.
• William T. Floyd – Corporal, Canadian Armed Forces veteran served for over a decade alongside his two brothers, during the Second World War.
  
  

“Remembrance Day gives us the opportunity to stand together as a community and reflect on the service and sacrifice of generations of Canadians,” said Jack Ryan, Second Vice President, Royal Canadian Legion Branch #645. “These banners also help keep the stories of local veterans visible in our community and ensure their contributions are remembered by future generations.”

Quick Facts:

• Mayor Smith launched Wasaga Beach’s Veteran Banner Recognition Program in 2016.
• With the addition of five new banners this year, 35 local veterans are now recognized through the program.
• Veteran banners are displayed along River Road West each November in the lead-up to Remembrance Day.
• The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #645 was established in 2024. The Branch operates from the Fernbrook Centre (1888 Klondike Park Road) and has over 390 members.

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Karla Findlay
Team Lead, Communications, Customer Experience & Public Engagement
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Sandra Watts
General Manager of External Relations | Director of Communications, Destination Marketing & Intergovernmental Affairs
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