NANAIMO — Dozens of local youth are preparing for an overnight vigil around the city’s Cenotaph ahead of Remembrance Day on Wednesday.
Beginning at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10, members from 205 Collishaw Royal Canadian Air Cadets, 136 Amphion Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, and 2422 Canadian Scottish Regiment Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps will stand a post at the Dallas Square Cenotaph on Front St., forming an overnight honour guard of the monument.
205 Collishaw administrative officer David Ruel told NanaimoNewsNOW over 70 youth aged 12 to 18 years old have said they’ll volunteer their time to honour lives lost on the battlefield.
“They do it to honour those who have fallen, who still serve in our military, as well as our emergency services, to honour those who fought for our freedoms.”
Representatives from multiple cadet groups in the Nanaimo area participate in the annual event. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)
The guard will remain through what is expected to be a rainy and windy night, eventually replaced at around 10:40 a.m. by representatives from the Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP ahead of the planned service at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Day Wednesday.
Ruel said shifts will start out 20 minutes long but may be shortened if conditions worsen.
A candlelight vigil is planned for 8 p.m., which is open to the public.
“It’s something that’s grown over the last couple of years, it’s actually pretty neat. Our chaplain is going to be leading it…we usually get some of the cadets from each of the units to speak about their experiences, their thoughts on things.”
Those not on guard will stage at the nearby St. Paul’s Anglican Church, which donated their space for cadets and organizers to nap, eat, warm up, and dry off.
Several local businesses are also contributing food, snacks, and drinks to aid the effort.
A new guard takes its place every 20 minutes, with around 70 youth expected to form a constant watch over the monument prior to Remembrance Day. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)
Ruel said during opening remarks to the group, he tries to get them to think about what the activity means while cadets are on duty.
“I gather them all together and get them to think about why we’re able to do this. Things could be very different had the world not gone the way it did, as far as D-Day, Vimy Ridge, and all the other different wars and battles that have gone on over time.”
The overnight guard began in 2019 and has continued most years since, growing in attendance each year, Ruel said.
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