It was a frigid Monday morning as thousands gathered at the National War Memorial in Ottawa to honour those who lost their lives in Canada’s wars. Veterans and cadets marched down Wellington Street to the memorial to begin the country’s largest Remembrance Day ceremony. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, and Gov. Gen. Julie Payette were in attendance along with Chief of the Defence Staff, Gen. Jonathan Vance, and other dignitaries. This year’s Silver Cross Mother is Reine Samson Dawe, whose son, Captain Matthew J. Dawe was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2007.

Female officer is seen greeting a World War II veteran with a kiss on the cheek.
A military officer greets one of the few remaining Second World War veterans (Photo © Josie Costigan)
Royal Canadian Air Force playing instruments while marching on Remembrance Day.
The Royal Canadian Air Force band marches towards the National War Memorial. (Photo © Josie Costigan)
Royal Canadian Legion member arriving at the National War Memorial carrying flags with past and present generations of cadets.
A Royal Canadian Legion member leads past and present generations of cadets on the memorial. (Photo © Josie Costigan)
Attendees at the ceremony observing the moment of silence at 11 a.m.
As the clock struck 11 a.m., a moment of silence began with the firing of a 21-Gun Salute, at one round per minute. (Photo © Josie Costigan)
Reine Samson Dawe, this year's Silver Cross Mother, waiting for the veteran march off with Gov. Gen. Julie Payette, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Reine Samson Dawe, the Silver Cross Mother, Gov. Gen. Payette, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau and the prime minister, Justin Trudeau, stand along with Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay (far right) watch as the veterans march away. (Photo © Megan Costa)
Wreath entitled "the mothers of Canada" laid to represent Canadian mothers who have lost children in the wars.
This is the wreath laid by Reine Samson Dawe, representing the mothers who have lost their children to war. (Photo © Josie Costigan.)
Indigenous woman laying a poppy on the Tomb of the Unknown Solider after the ceremony.
Members of the crowd follow the tradition of laying poppies on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. (Photo © Josie Costigan)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with attendees after the ceremony had finished.
The prime minister greets members of the crowd as the ceremony finishes. (Photo © Josie Costigan.)
Memorial for Corporal Nathan Cirillo covered in poppies.
Some people also placed poppies on the plaque commemorating Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, who died Oct. 22, 2014 when he was shot while standing guard at the war memorial. (Photo © Megan Costa)

Images of the wreaths that were prepared and laid at the National War Memorial on behalf of various organizations and countries. (Photo © Megan Costa)

Poppies on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers
Poppies are scattered on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. (Photo © Megan Costa)