With Friday being a holiday, many schools in the Lac La Biche region were holding Remembrance Day ceremonies on Thursday, Nov. 9. This included JA Williams High School (JAWS) in Lac La Biche. The 15-minute ceremony began with a colour party comprised of army cadets and local dignitaries, including representatives from the McGrane Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, military, and Lac La Biche Protective Services (a community peace officer and firefighter). Carrying flags, the colour party marched to the front of the school gymnasium while the student body and staff looked on.
All those in attendance stood as Amri McKay, a Grade 11 student at JAWS, sang ‘Oh Canada.’ This was followed by a land acknowledgement and a quiet observance. Cidra Kaufman, a Grade 12 student, served as MC for the short event while fellow JAWS student Winter Oberg recited the iconic war poem ‘In Flanders Fields’, which was penned by World War I Canadian veteran John McCrea.
Afterward, Danny Stevens, Lac La Biche Legion president, read the ‘act of remembrance’, and during his speech, emphasized the need to forever remember those who fought and sacrificed their lives for Canada. The ceremony ended with the colour party marching out of the gymnasium and the students heading back to their classrooms.
