A ceremony will be held Friday at the National War Memorial in Ottawa to honour the men and women of Canada who served in the First World War.
The national ceremony will mark the “end of an era,” following the passing of Canada's last-known First World War veteran. John Babcock died in February at the age of 109 in Spokane, Wash.
"Canadians will have an opportunity to celebrate the hard-fought victories of those brave men and women," Veterans Affairs Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn said in March.
In Ottawa, the ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the National War Memorial. Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, along with other dignitaries, are scheduled to attend the ceremony.
Queen Street will be closed between Metcalfe and Elgin streets from 8:30 a.m.; Elgin Street will be closed from Wellington Street to Albert Street from 8:45 a.m.; and Wellington Street will be closed between O'Connor Street and Sussex Avenue from 9:00 a.m. Streets will reopen at 12:30 p.m.
Similar ceremonies are planned in provincial and territorial capitals across Canada, as well as at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France and the Canada Memorial at Green Park in London, England.
“We gather not to mourn the passing of any single individual, but to mark the end of an era in Canada's history,” Blackburn added. “As Canadians, we will stand united in keeping alive the memory of their achievements and sacrifices.”
For more information on Veterans Affairs Canada’s “End of and Era” campaign, visit: http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=feature/crfww