Burnaby holds two Remembrance Day ceremonies on November 11
Royal Canadian Legion branches in north and south Burnaby lead ceremonies at Confederation Park and Bonsor Park on Wednesday, November 11, with City Hall closed for the day.
Long read. The subject the most local outlets covered that day, with the public record behind it. Every outlet and record is linked under the story. Read the original report on burnaby.ca.
Burnaby marks Remembrance Day with two ceremonies on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, organized by the Royal Canadian Legion in the north and south of the city. City Hall closes for the day, as do Burnaby schools and arts facilities, and TransLink runs a reduced holiday schedule across the Metro Vancouver transit network.
The north Burnaby ceremony
The north Burnaby ceremony takes place at the Confederation Park cenotaph, organized by Royal Canadian Legion Branch #148.
The parade begins at 10:30 am from the McGill Library and walks to the cenotaph. Confederation Park is on Willingdon Avenue near Hastings Street in north Burnaby, and the cenotaph at its centre serves as the gathering point for the ceremony.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch #148 has organized Remembrance Day services at this location for many years. The branch serves the north Burnaby community and coordinates the annual service, which includes a moment of silence at 11:00 am, the laying of wreaths, and the Last Post.
The south Burnaby ceremony
The south Burnaby ceremony takes place at the Bonsor Park cenotaph, at the corner of Nelson Avenue and Imperial Street, organized by Royal Canadian Legion Branch #83.
The parade starts at 10:35 am from the corner of Nelson and Bennett. Bonsor Park is a central Burnaby park that also hosts the Bonsor Recreation Complex. Branch #83 serves south Burnaby and leads this ceremony each year.
Both ceremonies are free and open to the public. The City of Burnaby asks residents to wear a poppy, and to take time to pause, reflect and remember those who served.
What is closed on November 11
Burnaby City Hall at 4949 Canada Way will be closed all day on Wednesday, November 11. City arts facilities will also be closed. The City's statement does not list which arts facilities these include, but the category covers City-operated venues.
Some recreation facilities remain open with adjusted hours. The City of Burnaby says residents should check the individual facility page on burnaby.ca before visiting on November 11, as hours vary by location.
Burnaby Schools (School District 41) has November 11 listed as a Remembrance Day closure on its calendar. There is no school that day across all public schools in the district.
Burnaby City Council does not meet on November 11. The council holds regular meetings on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 5 pm. The next regular council meeting after Remembrance Day falls on Tuesday, November 25, 2026.
Transit on November 11
TransLink has confirmed it will run a holiday service schedule on Wednesday, November 11, covering all Metro Vancouver transit services. This includes the Expo and Millennium SkyTrain lines, which serve Burnaby stations including Metrotown, Brentwood Town Centre, Holdom, Sperling, Lake City Way, Production Way and Lougheed Town Centre.
Holiday schedules on SkyTrain run less frequently than a regular weekday. Bus routes also run reduced service on statutory holidays. Riders planning to attend either Remembrance Day ceremony should check the specific schedule for their route on translink.ca on November 10, as holiday schedules differ by route and time of day.
About Remembrance Day in Canada
November 11 marks the end of the First World War, when an armistice came into force at 11:00 am on November 11, 1918. Canada has observed November 11 as Remembrance Day since 1931. The day honours all Canadians who have served in the armed forces, in wartime and in peace.
The red poppy became the symbol of remembrance after the 1915 poem "In Flanders Fields" by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian physician who served in the First World War. The Royal Canadian Legion has distributed poppies in Canada since 1921.
The two-minute silence at 11:00 am is observed across the country on November 11. Both Burnaby ceremonies are timed so the service includes that silence. Residents attending either service are welcome to stay for the full ceremony, which includes the laying of wreaths by veterans, community groups and civic representatives, and the sounding of the Last Post and Reveille on a bugle.
Planning your day
Both parades start at 10:30 am and 10:35 am and lead to their respective cenotaphs in time for the 11:00 am moment of silence. Plan to arrive at the parade start point before 10:30 am if you want to march with the parade, or go directly to the cenotaph if you prefer to watch the ceremony at the memorial itself.
TransLink runs a holiday schedule on November 11 across the whole Metro Vancouver network. The Expo and Millennium SkyTrain lines serve multiple Burnaby stations, and buses connect to both Confederation Park and Bonsor Park. Check translink.ca on November 10 for the specific schedule for the route you plan to use, as holiday schedules vary by route.
If you want to visit a Burnaby recreation centre on November 11, check its individual page on burnaby.ca first. Some centres stay open with adjusted hours on statutory holidays; others close for the day. The City's news page does not list which recreation centres are open on November 11, so checking online before you go will confirm whether the facility you want is running that day.
Residents who cannot attend either ceremony in person can observe the two-minute silence at 11:00 am wherever they are. The City of Burnaby asks residents to wear a poppy and to take a moment to pause and reflect on November 11.
What you can do
Residents who want to attend a ceremony can join either the north Burnaby parade from the McGill Library at 10:30 am or the south Burnaby parade from Nelson and Bennett at 10:35 am. Both are free and no registration is required.
Before visiting any Burnaby recreation centre on November 11, check its page on burnaby.ca to confirm it is open and what hours it is keeping. City Hall and arts facilities are closed all day.
If you plan to travel by transit to or from either ceremony, check the holiday schedule on translink.ca on November 10 for the specific routes and times you need.
Questions this story answers
When and where is the Remembrance Day ceremony in north Burnaby?
The north Burnaby ceremony is at the Confederation Park cenotaph on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. The parade begins at 10:30 am from the McGill Library and walks to the cenotaph. Royal Canadian Legion Branch #148 organizes it. The park is on Willingdon Avenue near Hastings Street.
When and where is the Remembrance Day ceremony in south Burnaby?
The south Burnaby ceremony is at the Bonsor Park cenotaph, located at Nelson Avenue and Imperial Street, on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. The parade starts at 10:35 am from the corner of Nelson and Bennett. Royal Canadian Legion Branch #83 organizes this ceremony.
Is City Hall open on November 11?
No. The City of Burnaby's news page confirms that Burnaby City Hall will be closed on Wednesday, November 11 for Remembrance Day. City arts facilities will also be closed. Some recreation facilities remain open, and residents should check the individual facility page on burnaby.ca to confirm hours before visiting.
Are Burnaby schools open on November 11?
No. Burnaby Schools (School District 41) has November 11 listed as a Remembrance Day closure on its school year calendar. There is no instruction that day for students across all Burnaby public schools. The next school day is Thursday, November 12, 2026.
Does TransLink run normal service on Remembrance Day?
No. TransLink has confirmed it will run a holiday service schedule on Wednesday, November 11 for Remembrance Day across the Metro Vancouver system. This affects SkyTrain (including the Expo and Millennium lines serving Burnaby), buses and other services. Check translink.ca on November 10 for the specific schedule for the route you use, as holiday schedules run less frequently than a regular weekday.
Who organizes the Remembrance Day ceremonies in Burnaby?
The two ceremonies are organized by separate Royal Canadian Legion branches. Branch #148 leads the north Burnaby ceremony at Confederation Park. Branch #83 leads the south Burnaby ceremony at Bonsor Park. Both branches are part of the Royal Canadian Legion, which organizes Remembrance Day services across Canada every year on November 11.
What is a cenotaph?
A cenotaph is a memorial built to honour people who died in war, especially when their remains are not buried at that location. The name comes from Greek words meaning empty tomb. Burnaby's two cenotaphs, at Confederation Park and Bonsor Park, serve as gathering points for the community to mark Remembrance Day each year.
What should I wear or bring to a Remembrance Day ceremony?
The City of Burnaby asks residents to wear a poppy and to pause and reflect during the ceremony. Poppies are sold by the Royal Canadian Legion in the weeks before November 11. The ceremonies are held outdoors in November, so dress for the weather. Both parades and ceremonies are free and open to all members of the public.
Is the Burnaby City Council meeting happening on November 11?
No. Burnaby City Council holds its regular meetings on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 5 pm at City Hall. The next scheduled meeting after Remembrance Day is on Tuesday, November 25, 2026. November 11 is a Wednesday this year, so there is no council meeting that week on the holiday.
What other Burnaby facilities are affected on November 11?
Beyond City Hall and arts facilities, some Burnaby recreation centres remain open with adjusted hours on Remembrance Day. The City of Burnaby recommends checking the page for each individual facility on burnaby.ca before visiting on November 11, as hours vary by location.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- City of Burnaby · Remembrance Day ceremonies to take place in north and south Burnaby, November 5, 2026burnaby.ca
- Burnaby Schools · November calendar showing Remembrance Day closureburnabyschools.ca
- TransLink · Remembrance Day holiday service schedule confirmed for November 11, 2026translink.ca
- City of Burnaby · Meetings and Public Hearings, council meeting scheduleburnaby.ca
Found an error? Tell the editors with the corrections form. A correction is noted on the story it changes. Read our standards.
