Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty traveled home Friday from Ottawa to participate in today’s Remembrance Day ceremonies in downtown Prince George and at every point he landed along the way he could not help but notice.
Among the crowds he saw in busy air terminals in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver, very few of the people were wearing poppies and nowhere did he see any visual reminders that Remembrance Day was fast approaching.
“There was just a lack of people wearing poppies and a lack of mention and significance of the day and it was just really frustrating for me,” told the crowd Saturday morning gathered for Remembrance Day ceremonies at the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre.
“It saddened me. It angers me.”
Doherty is not sure why so many Canadians appear unwilling to wear the poppy to publicly acknowledge the efforts of our military servicemen and servicewomen who put their lives on the line in conflicts and peacekeeping missions at home and aboard and also pay tribute to our first responders.
“Have we become indifferent, desensitized, did we forget about their sacrifices,” asked Doherty.
“It’s on all of us to remember and make sure the next generation understands the importance of this day. I’m heartened to see our cubs and our scouts and our cadets that are here participating in Remembrance Day.”
A crowd of between 500 and 600 attended the morning ceremony at the Civic Centre, well below its 900 capacity. The crowd that gathered later at the Veterans Plaza cenotaph was estimated at 2,000.
“I remember when that (Civic Centre) auditorium would be filled,” said Doherty. “It wasn’t today and that’s frustrating for me because we have people that are putting forth incredible sacrifice, both families and our brave men and women. We should think them not just today, but every day.
“Wearing a poppy is the least we can do.”
Sienna Friberg, a 17-year-old member of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets 396 Squadron, works part-time at Prince George Airport and she as well noticed there were hardly any Remembrance Day reminders for travelers in and out of the terminal.
I work at the airport and we even have a little poppy thing for the Legion there and I don’t understand, it’s really sad more people don’t wear the poppy,” Friberg said.
That wasn’t the case at her school, according to the Prince George Secondary School Grade 12 student.
“It surprised me, there were quite a few students wearing poppies, more than I expected,” she said.
