In photos: U of T marks Remembrance Day 2024 across its three campuses

A soldier salute the wreathes laid at Soldier's Tower

A soldier salutes in front of wreaths lain beneath the arches of Soldiers' Tower during Remembrance Day ceremonies at U of T's St. George campus (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Heads were bowed across the University of Toronto's three campuses on Nov. 11 as the U of T community recognized Remembrance Day. 

At the St. George campus, the sound of the carillon’s bells rang out from atop Soldiers' Tower into the crisp autumn air in memory of soldiers and veterans, including those who served and fell in the First and Second World Wars as well as other conflicts.

The ceremony also honoured the 100th anniversary of Soldiers’ Tower, as well as the centennial of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), with Lt.-Col. Peter MacLaurin, chair of the Soldiers’ Tower Committee and Lt.-Col. David Letellier de St-Just both speaking in front of an audience that numbered in the hundreds. 

The service, which was attended by students, alumni, faculty, staff, local and federal government representatives and veterans, honoured Canada’s war efforts through poems, historical vignettes and an account of the dedication of Soldiers’ Tower on June 5th, 1924.  

Wreaths were placed under the three arches by dignitaries who included U of T President Meric Gertler; Trevor Young, vice-president and provost; Anna Kennedy, chair of U of T's Governing Council; and Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s deputy prime minister and minister of finance.

A plaque commemorating the anniversary of Soldiers' Tower was presented by Corwin Cambray, president of the U of T Alumni Association.  

A gun salute at nearby Queen’s Park echoed loudly into the air as “O Canada” was sung by the hundreds of attendees. A public reception at the Great Hall in Hart House concluded the ceremony. The Tower’s Memorial Room remained open to the public until 4 p.m. 

U of T Scarborough commemorates Remembrance Day in the Meeting Place 

Over at the U of T Scarborough campus, Remembrance Day service was held in the Meeting Place to honour those who served in the First and Second World Wars, as well as other conflicts.  

The ceremony was attended by Linda Johnston, U of T Scarborough principal and U of T vice-president, Karin Ruhlandt, vice-principal academic and dean, and featured performances by the UTSC concert band, concert choir and string orchestra.  

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Top left: Members of the U of T Scarborough’s string orchestra perform. Top right: Principal Linda Johnston speaks to guests. Bottom: The UTSC concert band and choir perform during 2024 Remembrance Day ceremonies (photos by Don Campbell)

Trumpeter Michael Barth played the "Last Post" while community representatives laid wreaths on behalf of faculty, staff, students, alumni and the Scarborough community. 

U of T Mississauga honours the fallen 

U of T Mississauga’s Remembrance Day ceremony took place in front of the Davis Building, where Alexandra Gillespie, U of T Mississauga principal and U of T vice-president, Philip Anyang, vice-president, equity at the U of T Mississauga Students’ Union, and Richard Waters, representative of USW Local 1998, were present to lay wreaths to honour the fallen. 

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Top left: Philip Anyang, UTMSU VP Equity, Alexandra Gillespie, U of T Mississauga principal and U of T vice-president, and Richard Waters, USW representative, lay wreaths to honour the fallen. Top right: Ruben Sidhu, U of T special constable, lowers the flag. Bottom: Attendees mark Remembrance Day in U of T Mississauga's David Building (photos by Nick Iwanyshyn)

U of T St. George marks Remembrance Day, centenary of Soldiers' Tower

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Soldiers' Tower was erected in 1924 and funded by the University of Toronto Alumni Association (photo by Johnny Guatto)
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Piper Rory Sinclair leads distinguished guests through the memorial arch of Soldiers' Tower (photo by Johnny Guatto)
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Chrystia Freeland, Canada's deputy prime minister and minister of finance, speaks with Peter MacLaurin, chair of the Soldiers’ Tower Committee (photo by Johnny Guatto)
veteran soldiers salute
Members of the Royal Canadian Air Force salute during the playing of “Last Post” by trumpeter Andrew Mendis (photo by Johnny Guatto)
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Members of the Hart House Chorus perform during the placing of wreaths (photo by Johnny Guatto)
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Rev. Richard Ruggle addresses attendees outside Hart House (photo by Johnny Guatto)
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L-R: U of T President Meric Gertler, Corwin Cambray, president of the U of T Alumni Association, Anna Kennedy, chair of U of T's Governing Council and Daniel Hendrickson, past chair of the Soldiers’ Tower Committee, preside over the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the centenary of Soldiers’ Tower (photo by Johnny Guatto)
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Cadets stand at attention (photo by Johnny Guatto)
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