Those unable to attend the Remembrance Day ceremony in Prince Rupert at 11 a.m on. Nov. 11 may have the opportunity to honour Canada's veterans much earlier at a ceremony in Port Edward.
The district has held a ceremony at its memorial wall at 10 a.m. In years past to allow people to make the trip to Prince Rupert for the larger ceremony, but council and the RCMP are in discussions to move the Port Edward event to 9 a.m.
This year, at the request of the RCMP, the ceremony was pushed back to 9:30 a.m., which in part resulted in 10 officers attending. But now the RCMP have requested the ceremony be pushed back another half hour.
"We had a suggestion from the mounties to start at 9 a.m. so they have some time to visit with the people of Port Edward afterwards. They said they felt rushed to get back to Prince Rupert and didn't feel they had time to talk with residents," explained Mayor Dave MacDonald.
The idea of moving Remembrance Day activities back an hour found support among councillors at the Nov. 12 meeting of council.
"This gives us the opportunity to talk to people because most people just go right into town," said Coun. Knut Bjorndal.
There were five wreaths laid during the Remembrance Day ceremony in Port Edward this year, with MacDonald also laying a wreath on behalf of the district at the event in Prince Rupert.