Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Waterloo, issues the following statement to the University of Waterloo community. You can read the full statement, accompanied by a Remembrance Day photo gallery, on Facebook.
On the morning of November 11, 1918, a global war that claimed millions of lives drew to a close.
Today, as Canadians have done every year since, we mark that moment in our hearts with remembrance, as we observe a moment of silence at 11:00am.
Our main campus flag will be lowered to half-staff, and a member of the University’s administration will represent us at the City of Waterloo’s Remembrance Day ceremony at the cenotaph. Though presently traveling on University business in Asia, please know that I have laid a wreath on behalf of the University of Waterloo at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in Hong Kong.
Today we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our liberties. We remember both those who have gone long before, and those whose sacrifices have been rendered all too recently.
At 11 o’clock, please pause for a moment of silence. Let us remember the high price of our freedom, and redouble our collective and personal commitment to building the peace.