By Richard Lawrence
To see all the pictures, go to:
https://www.richardlawrencephotography.ca/rlpgalleries/2022/candlelight2022/
One of the stellar events of Veterans Week is the Candlelight Tribute for Veterans held annually at the Canadian War Museum in which veterans pass candles to youth of various organizations who then take the candles forward and place them on a platform in front of wreaths that have already been laid. This symbolizes the passing of the torch from one generation to another.
Now, in the past, the order of ceremony was that the four or five main wreaths were laid (Canada, Armed Forces, Veterans Affairs, War Museum, etc.) almost as soon as the ceremony started and then the lights were dimmed and the Youth of Canada, represented by navy, air, and sea cadets, Boy Scouts, and other youth organizations, streamed down between the aisles of veterans (one center and one on each side) as veterans passed their candles (battery operated) to the aisle to be handed to one of the Youth. The Youth then moved down the aisles to the front platform where they placed the candles to rest beside and amongst the wreaths for the remainder of the ceremony. The lights were then brought back up and speeches and commemoration began.
Not so this year. It should have been obvious that there were changes in the air right when you walked into Lebreton Gallery as the signage for the event was different. Traditionally, there is a sign at the entrance and a big projected sign over the stage announcing the “Candlelight Tribute for Veterans”. This year the signs and projections were there but they only announced “Veterans Week”, nothing specific about this specific event. Also, the back of the stage is usually replete with flags of the City, Province, Country, Aboriginal, etc., and perhaps sentries, but this year – nothing. It makes a pretty bleak background for pictures.
Changes were immediately obvious when the ceremony started as well. This year there were no wreaths laid at all. There was, in front of the stage, a cannon with a single wreath (Canada) beside it, and two smaller platforms either side to hold the candles. Rather than at the start of the ceremony, this part now took place three-quarters through and instead of three streams of Youth, there was a single stream down the centre aisle who, pretty much went to the left smaller platform only until it was filled up and then came over to the right platform. I was told later that there should have been three streams and that both platforms should have been filled with candles at the same time but something went afoul. Notwithstanding, I preferred the older way of doing it as it set a nicer stage for the rest of the evening rather than sitting down and just listening to speeches.
Two other parts of the ceremony were just missing altogether. The first was where the Minister of Veterans Affairs presents the Mayor of Ottawa with a framed copy of the Veterans Week poster and in exchange, the Mayor presents the Minister with a framed copy of the City’s Proclamation of Veterans Week. While seemingly unimportant, it does bring the federal and municipal governments together for this occasion.
Secondly, the most important portion of the event is where a street in a new development is dedicated to the memory of a veteran (usually passed away) in which his family for as many generations as they can find are brought on stage and presented with a street sign with the veterans name. His story is told to the audience, not only military history but accomplishments after service as well, anecdotes, etc. It’s a great feature of this event and I missed it. Mayor Watson did state that a street in Stittsville will be renamed in honour of World War II veteran, Roger Griffiths, and be called Roger Griffiths Avenue, but it’s not the same as having the family all there, on stage, and being presented with the sign. In my mind, the significance of that part of the event is lost.
Before it’s thought that I do nothing but complain or am against change, I’m not. It was still a fitting ceremony for the veterans but in my mind it did not have the heart or gravitas of the old ceremony. I hope they rethink the changes for next year and maybe another year out of Covid restrictions will allow for some of the old traditions to be brought back.
