The seven-day period in each year that begins on November 5 and ends at the end of November 11 is proclaimed as Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week.
(1) Subject to subsection (2), at 11 a.m. on each Remembrance Day, the people of Ontario shall pause and observe two minutes of silence in honour of those who died serving their country in wars and in peacekeeping efforts.
The silence can only be achieved through voluntary observance and through our collective desire to remember.
The following are suggestions for ways to promote the observance of the silence:
We can participate in a traditional Remembrance Day service at a war memorial or cenotaph.
If driving, we can pull our vehicles to the side of the road and sit quietly.
We can announce the silence on the public address systems of our places of business and of our institutions.
We can gather in common areas of our places of business and of our institutions.
We can briefly shut down our assembly lines.
We can hold Remembrance Day assemblies in our schools, colleges and universities.
We can hold Remembrance Day services in our places of worship.
(1) Every worker in Ontario has the right to wear a poppy in the workplace during Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week. ;
Subsection (1) does not apply if the wearing of a poppy may pose a danger or hazard to the health, safety or welfare of any person.
(1) On the last sessional day before Remembrance Day in each year, immediately after Introduction of Visitors during the Morning Routine,
the members of the Legislative Assembly shall pause and observe two minutes of silence in honour of those who died serving their country in wars and in peacekeeping efforts; and
following the two minutes of silence, members are permitted to give speeches for 15 minutes, with five minutes allotted to the party recognized as the Official Opposition, five minutes allotted to the recognized party from which the Government is chosen and five minutes allotted to any other recognized parties and independent members as a group.
In this section,
“recognized party” has the same meaning as in subsection 62 (5) of the Legislative Assembly Act.
The following are suggestions for ways to honour veterans during Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week:
Attending or volunteering at a remembrance or veteran appreciation event.
Visiting a war museum, memorial or cenotaph.
Learning about the contributions of veterans across Ontario.
Inviting a veteran as a guest speaker to an event to honour and recognize their contributions.
Carrying out acts of appreciation to honour veterans.
Supporting campaigns that honour veterans.
Contributing to the upkeep of a memorial or cenotaph.
(1) The Minister may honour veterans through various recognition efforts, including by bestowing awards.
In this section,
“Minister” means the member of the Executive Council to whom responsibility for the administration of this Act is assigned or transferred under the Executive Council Act.