Home, Heart, and History: Reflecting on Remembrance Day in Our Communities

Every year on November 11th, Canadians pause for a moment of silence, a moment that carries the weight of history, honour, and gratitude. It’s a time to reflect on the freedoms we enjoy and the courage of those who served to protect them.

For many of us, that reflection begins right at home. The poppy on the counter. The television tuned to the national ceremony. Kids asking quiet questions about what it means to remember. In those small, ordinary moments, the legacy of our veterans continues to live and breathe.

Our homes are where these stories endure, places where we gather, teach, and remember. A home isn’t just shelter; it’s a daily expression of peace and stability, two things that so many before us fought to preserve.

The Heart of Remembrance

Across Calgary, ceremonies are held in nearly every corner of the city, from the Field of Crosses along Memorial Drive to gatherings at Central Memorial Park and local legions throughout our communities. Thousands of white crosses line the river each November, each one representing a Southern Alberta soldier who never came home.

It’s a powerful reminder that remembrance isn’t limited to a single day or a single place. It’s a living part of our city, woven into our streets, our schools, our parks, and our conversations.

At home, that spirit often shows up in small but meaningful ways. Last year, my then six-year-old son brought home a colouring he made for Remembrance Day, a drawing of two poppies growing beside a cross with the words “I luv u sholjers” (which, I interpret as "I love Your Soldiers) written carefully across the top. His spelling might have needed some work, but his heart was exactly right.

It was a simple moment that meant a lot, a reminder that Calgary’s teachers are doing a wonderful job of passing these lessons on and helping kids understand the importance of gratitude, sacrifice, and remembrance. I’m deeply thankful that those values are being instilled in our children right from the start.

Home and the Freedom to Build

In real estate, we talk often about “home,” finding it, building it, or moving on from it. But Remembrance Day brings a deeper meaning to that word.

Home isn’t about finishes or square footage. It’s about safety and belonging. It’s the quiet comfort of knowing that we can live freely, speak openly, and plan for the future, freedoms made possible by those who served.

Our veterans didn’t fight for possessions; they fought for the right of future generations to have ordinary days — to share meals, raise families, and build lives without fear. That’s what “home” truly represents in Canada.

 A City That Remembers

In Calgary, remembrance isn’t just observed, it’s felt. The Field of Crosses stands each November as one of the most moving tributes in the country. Communities hold ceremonies at local cenotaphs. Firefighters and first responders bow their heads alongside veterans and families.

Even in our newest neighbourhoods, surrounded by the hum of construction and new beginnings, the sense of gratitude remains. The ability to build, to grow, to create — all of it stems from the stability that was earned through sacrifice.

Reflecting and Moving Forward

As we observe Remembrance Day, it’s a time to look back, but also to look around and appreciate the peace and community that define daily life in Calgary.

That might mean attending a ceremony, visiting the Field of Crosses, or simply taking a quiet moment at home. However we choose to remember, the act itself ensures that gratitude remains part of who we are.

For me, as someone who helps people find homes, this day serves as a reminder that “home” is about far more than real estate. It’s about the freedom to live the lives we choose, safely, openly, and with gratitude for those who made it possible.

Because that freedom, the one we experience in our homes and communities every day, is the greatest gift of all.

Lest we forget. ❤️