11 things you need to know about this Remembrance Day in Hamilton

Every Nov. 11 is a day Canadians, young and old, pause to give thanks and to remember.

Under provincial coronavirus regulations however, there is a gathering limit of 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. This will make Remembrance Day different this year. Observers and veterans are discouraged from attending area cenotaphs for ceremonies. No public gatherings are permitted at any city cenotaphs.

Here are 11 things you need to know.

1. Hamilton's service at Gore Park is the official City of Hamilton service and is virtual for the public this year. The Lancaster will fly over the cenotaphs on Nov. 11. Hamiltonians are encouraged to watch the virtual service on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. There will be no ceremonies at the city's various cenotaphs (Hamilton, Ancaster, Dundas, Glanbrook, Flamborough and Stoney Creek). Instead, Cable 14 will be broadcasting a virtual ceremony for the public to view. You can watch online at Cable 14 or the city's YouTube channel. The virtual service will include a special broadcast of Hamilton Remembers" highlighting past Remembrance Day services in Hamilton.

2. The Warplane Heritage Museum service is virtual. This 2020 service will be held at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, but there will not be an audience in the building. The museum is closed to the public and members that day. The service can be watched live on CHCH-TV or streamed at chch.com/live. A fly past by the Lancaster over this service and several other local cenotaphs is scheduled, weather permitting.

3. Burlington's live virtual 2020 Remembrance Day ceremony will be streamed at burlingtonlegion.com, beginning at 10:50 a.m. on Nov. 11.

4. Hamilton's Lister Block will be decorated into a Hero Windows" display.

5. The National Remembrance Day Ceremony in Ottawa: Nov. 11, starting at 10:45 a.m., watch the National Remembrance Day Ceremony live on the legion's Facebook page, or on TV on major Canadian networks.

6. Cadets and Junior Rangers won't be involved in the Remembrance campaign, which runs from Oct. 30 to Nov. 10, as per a directive from the legion's head office.

7. Laying wreaths. People can still buy wreaths in memory of" from their legion but won't be able to lay the wreaths on Nov. 11. Wreaths will be laid at the cenotaph by the legion. Local legions and their contact information can be found at legion.ca. Or, if you have a wreath you wish to be placed on your behalf, you can drop it off at the Hamilton Military Museum in Dundurn Park from Nov. 4 to 10 between 12 to 4 p.m., (closed Mondays) or contact the museum to arrange outside of their operating hours. Wreaths can be viewed at the museum until they are sent to the centotaph for the service.

8. Stoney Creek's Royal Canadian Legion, Battlefield Branch 622 changed its approach to Remembrance Day, starting with the annual poppy campaign. Legion president Joyce Brown says members won't be actively selling poppies at popular shopping spots like Eastgate Square, Walmart and Costco, but distributing donation boxes to retailers and other establishments willing to take them instead.

9. Wear a poppy. Locally, you can pick up a poppy anywhere you normally get one. Tim Hortons, Giant Tiger, the bank, etc. Look for a legion poppy box. Poppies can be seen in every corner of this great country.

10. New touchless donation boxes. The Royal Canadian Legion 2020 National Poppy Campaign has new touchless donation boxes this year. There will be 250 Pay Tribute" boxes across the country. There is one in Hamilton, two in Burlington. The boxes will accept fee-free touchless donations in two-dollar increments, from any tap-enabled device or card. Donors can also choose to take a lapel poppy from the box, as they would from a traditional box. Along with traditional and electronic Pay Tribute boxes, donors can choose to donate online via legion.ca.

11. The Poppy Store. Toques, pins, non-medical masks and more. Find all things poppy at poppystore.ca.

Jennifer Moore is an editorial assistant at The Spectator in Hamilton. Reach her via email: jmoore@thespec.com