Shaynee Modien
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Shaunavon Standard
As we head into fall, Nov. 11 marks two special occasions in Canada.
This year, 2025, brings us to the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and, of course, the yearly marking of Remembrance Day.
The end of World War II, the last major conflict in which young men made significant sacrifices, is a poignant reminder that we are almost at the end of the lives of those who survived it. According to recent statistics from 2023, there are only 9,200 veterans alive in all of Canada, from both the Korean War and World War II combined.
When Veterans Affairs was contacted to clarify, government officials stated that this number has drastically declined since then, with the remaining veterans well into their 90s.
While we can’t stop the passing of those who fought in this war, we can still honor their memory by continuing to hold events in their name. Towns like Shaunavon and their Legion are doing just that.
In this southern part of Saskatchewan, like many parts of Canada, there are only a few World War II veterans left. It’s no longer those who can lead, but we continue with the support of others in the community, which keeps events going.
Brenda Waldron, executive member, and Deb Aadland, poppy chair, both of the Shaunavon Legion, were interviewed leading up to Remembrance Day.
“The service starts at 10:45 at the Legion Hall with a program and laying of the wreaths,” mentioned Brenda. “After that, the government wreaths and the veterans’ wreaths are carried down to the cenotaph in Memorial Park, with the Legion members and anyone else who feels like marching them down. There is a laying of the wreaths there.”
Waldron went on to say, “While that’s being done, volunteers in the kitchen in the Legion are getting a complimentary lunch ready, so people have lunch, then help set up tables. We always have a banquet that night.”
“Prior to Remembrance Day, we hold a door-to-door poppy blitz in Shaunavon,” states Brenda. “We’ve been lucky to have high school sports teams help out with the volunteers going door-to-door selling poppies the last few years, which is our biggest fundraiser for the year.”
This year’s poppy blitz was held on Thursday, Oct. 30. Poppy trays have also been made available in Shaunavon, Eastend, Climax, and Frontier.
Both Waldron and Aadland mentioned that the Shaunavon Legion helps put on seven services in the Southwest leading up to Remembrance Day, including Eastend School, Frontier School, Shaunavon Public School, Shaunavon High School, Christ the King School, Shaunavon long-term care, and the final one at the Legion itself, where “anybody from any of the communities can attend those services.”
Brenda also stated, “We’ve been serving the outlying communities for a number of years, and some of the communities are stretched for time and money, so it helps them too.”
It’s been found that having services at schools is a great idea, as Deb mentions, “Our youth are fortunate they have no concept of war.”
They learn in schools now about the sacrifices of those involved in war.
“Kids are getting more involved – they do poetry or an essay or coloring,” and then “we place them in the museum for about a month where they can be seen by the public. People can vote on their favourites and we have a couple of ex-teachers come in and judge. The winners are then sent on to the next level.”
Deb states that the entries are “kindergarten to Grade 12. We don’t have as many entries from the students, but we’ve got some really good artists out of the high school in Shaunavon.”
One more event with the Legion’s support are the banners that hang along Centre Street in Shaunavon, showing pictures of soldiers, held in remembrance of those who fought long ago. The program was started in the community last year.
As Deb, the poppy chair of the Shaunavon Legion, says, “People can’t forget.”
For further information on how to participate in the events, including the $25 Remembrance Day supper (tickets available at Western Financial in Shaunavon), call Deb at 1-403-878-6993 or Brenda at 1-306-294-7756.
