Remembrance Day

Afghanistan veterans Matt Staley and Gordon Hoffman are planning to be at the Remembrance Day cenotaph service this year. While the parade features fewer WWII and Korean War veterans each year, they say that qathet has quietly become home to hundreds of people who have served in more recent conflicts. Many choose to settle here after their time at Sunshine Coast Health Centre, which specializes in trauma recovery.

“Some don’t want to identify as veterans. Some are homeless. Some are suffering from mental health and substance use disorders,“ said Gord, who is the local Royal Canadian Legion Branch’s Service Officer – responsible for connection and liaison between local vets and required services, including higher levels of Royal Canadian Legion Command.

“War sucks,” said Matt. “It’s a terrible experience,” so it’s no surprise that many veterans choose to remain anonymous.

Still, the two former Warrant Officers say all vets appreciate it when people show up on November 11 to pay respect, and to remember.

FROM QATHET TO AFGHANISTAN: Gordon Hoffman, 37, grew up in Powell River and spent five years as an Army Cadet, before joining the service at 19. Here he’s on his first tour, in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Then-Private (Trained) Hoffman was conducting a vital point search for IEDs during a convoy between Kandahar Airfield (KAF) and Forward Operations Base (FOB) Frontenac.

REMEMBRANCE DAY 2022

When: 9:45 am, Two minutes of silence at 11 am.

What: Cenotaph service & laying of wreaths.

Where: Dwight Hall, Townsite.