November 10th, 2019

Remembrance Day statement from NDP Veterans critic

QUEEN'S PARK — MPP Jennie Stevens, NDP critic for Veterans, Legions and Military Affairs, released the following statement to mark Remembrance Day:

"On November 11, Canadians across our country will stand in silence, united in remembering more than 118,000 Canadians who, since Confederation, have given their lives for our freedom.

Remembrance Day gives us an opportunity to, together, honour the heroism and the sacrifice of the men and women who helped to shape our fine country’s history.

I am fortunate to come from St. Catharines, a community that has a rich history with veterans and their Legions. St. Catharines will remember our own local heroes as well as all of our heroes — including Warrant Officer Dennis Brown. Dennis was a reservist in the Lincoln and Welland Regiment. He was a son, a husband, and a father of three boys, Mac, Owen and Ben. Dennis was a very dear friend of mine. Dennis was killed 10 years ago while deployed with the Canadian contingent of NATO in Afghanistan at the age of 38.

I’m a very proud mother of an active service member, Jonathan Lindal, Petty Officer Second Class in the Royal Canadian Navy. Jonathan has completed three tours of duty abroad. I would like to say I know the importance of recognizing our veterans and recognizing their families. We can never repay the debt we owe, nor could we ever have enough gratitude for the freedom we enjoy every day.

We must remember our veterans answered the call to defend freedom — those who served in Korea, the South African war, the conflict in Libya, the 158 men and women who gave their lives for us in Afghanistan, and our veterans who fought in other conflicts, which include peacekeeping missions. We must remember the soldiers, the sailors and the airmen who guarded and continue to guard our freedom through NATO and UN missions against terrorism and piracy. We thank them all for their sacrifices. On November 11, Royal Canadian Legions across Ontario will be hosting ceremonies to reflect and acknowledge the sacrifices of all our veterans, past and present, our men and women in uniform. We will join together in a moment of silence. We will remember them."