We Will Remember Them

It was another successful calendar of ceremonies and tributes for the 11 Days of Remembrance at the Field of Crosses, and our Cantiga and Cantare choristers were proud to do their part!

Celebrating 10 Years of Cantare at the Crosses

Each November 3500 crosses are erected in a park along Memorial Drive, in Calgary, to pay tribute individually to the thousands of Southern Albertans who made the ultimate sacrifice defending our freedom. In addition, a separate part of the park is set aside, with 120 unique crosses, for a special memorial to the 120,000 heroes from across Canada who lost their lives fighting for this great country. All day and night people walk through the 5 acre memorial, which is illuminated 24/7, reading the crosses and being reminded that our freedom was not free.

Each morning from November 1 up to and including November 11, at sunrise, a moving flag raising ceremony is held including school choirs, military, buglers, pipers, Memorial Cross Families and VIPs pay tribute to our fallen. Each evening at sunset a similar service is held and flags are lowered. On November 11 a poignant, televised Remembrance Day service is held.

The Field of Crosses and Valour Canada have collaborated to create a youth program called “Hot Chocolate At The Crosses” for school classes. The program consists of a guided tour through the Field of Crosses and some classroom time where the students will learn about Vimy Ridge and have an opportunity to touch and handle artifacts.

Canadian Army Veterans, along with hundreds of volunteers assist in cleaning the crosses, installing the bases, erecting and taking down and storing the crosses.

The Field of Crosses is the inspiration of Calgary businessman and philanthropist, Murray McCann. He contacted his long-time friend, George Bittman who headed up The Calgary Poppy Fund, with the idea of erecting crosses as tribute to the thousands of Southern Albertans who fell in service of Canada’s military. The crosses would stand in military cemetery formation for the 11 days of The Calgary Poppy Fund Campaign as an annual visible reminder of those who gave up their lives. George Bittman passed away shortly after in a tragic accident. His spirit will live on in this project.

What for 10 years was a private memorial, founded and funded by Murray McCann, has now been gifted to the public as a registered charity to assure that 100 years from now we still remember and we never forget.

Cantare Children's Choir is proud to have been a long time partner of the Field of Crosses since November 2014. The children sing at the Remembrance Day ceremony, the Night of Lights Ceremony, as well as providing music for sunrise and sunset services throughout the 11 day period the crosses are standing. We undertake great efforts to teach our choristers about the history and significance of Canada's contribution in war and peace, we wish to make sure the children who perform at the ceremony are entrusted with the responsibility to keep the stories, lessons, and memories of these soldiers alive forever.

Choristers at the Crosses

In addition to our three ensemble performances at the field, Choristers and Choral Scholars sing the national and royal anthems for sunrise and sunset ceremonies throughout the 11 Days of Remembrance. We are so proud of our choristers who volunteer to provide this public service during this important time.

Cantiga’s Sunset Ceremony (November 2, 2024)

Cantiga got to present their own Sunset ceremony for YOUTH DAY at the Field of Crosses! We are so happy that our young choristers got the opportunity to experience the Field of Crosses before moving into Cantare.

The Night of Lights (November 10, 2024)

One of our favourite nights of the year, Cantare was proud to lend their voices to the Field of Crosses Project for the moving and somber sunset ceremony: The Night of Lights!

Following the inspiration of Holten Cemetary in The Netherlands, the Field of Crosses places candles at each of the over 3000 crosses representing the fallen. The candles burn from sunset until sunrise Remembrance Day.

Cantare provided the National and Royal anthems for the ceremony, and gave a moving performance of “We Remember Them” by Susan Labarr. Thanks to Assistant Director Graeme Climie for reading the service’s Lament.

Remembrance Day (November 11, 2024)

We were thrilled to have one of the warmest November 11ths in recent memory at The Field!

Cantare provided a moving program of music for the afternoon including WE WILL REMEMBER THEM, AFTER THE WAR, and THE PARTING GLASS with soloist Graeme Climie. Their voices set the perfect foundation for this solemn day of reflection. Congratulations to Cantare chorister Aida Dewalt for her moving reading of HIGH FLIGHT during the service.

100 Years of Service for the Royal Canadian Air Force

Since its inception in 1924, the Royal Canadian Air Force served Canadians in peace and war. In the Second World War, our young air force experienced tremendous growth and development and played a vital role. In 1939 the RCAF had only 4,000 personnel, less than a dozen airports and few training facilities.

In December 1939, Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand and Australia signed an agreement creating the Britsh Commonwealth Air Training Program which would be located in Canada, resulting in a rapid expansion of the air force.

Alberta and Saskatchewan played a critical role. Wide open skies, generally clear weather, and large tracts of sparsely occupied land provided the perfect conditions for air bases that needed many runways and lots of flying room beyond the range of enemy aircraft.

Canada built 7,000 hangars, barracks and drill halls for the air bases and training schools. Most training schools had three runways. More than 131,000 personnell from all over the world were trained as pilots, navigators, bomb aimers, wireless operators, air gunners and flight engineers.

By late 1944, the RCAF reached its peak as the fourth largest Allied air force with more than 215,000 personnel in uniform, including 17,000 members in the Women’s Division. By the time the war ended, more than 18,000 members of the RCAF had given their lives in the service of their country. The large presence of the British Commonwealth Air Training Program in southern Alberta meant that during the Second World War, most of the recruits from this area served in the Air Force.