On the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI, hundreds of people came out to Toronto's Old City Hall to pay tribute to those who fought in battles all over the world, and those who continue to protect our country.
The Remembrance Day ceremony on an unseasonably chilly Sunday morning recognized the men and women who never came back from war, as well as those who were physically and emotionally scarred by the atrocities they saw.
It began with 250 members of the regiments of 32 brigade marching from Union Station to University Avenue, to represent the return of troops following the Armistice.
"It's important to acknowledge, that toll is still taken today," Mayor John Tory told the crowd during the service. "Service to our country in areas of conflict can still cause that physical and mental hurt, both for those who serve and for their families - a fact which we today must collectively acknowledge and act upon."
Tory added that it becomes especially important to remember the sacrifices made for Canadians' freedom as we move further and further away from WWI and WWII.
"We gather here today in front of this cenotaph as a city dedicated to honouring all those who've answered the call of service."
Tory said based on the crowd in attendance on Sunday, he could tell that the future of Remembrance Day is "in good hands," and that the best act of remembrance is to stand up to a growing tide of hate.
"I hope that 100 years from today, on November 11, 2118, the mayor of Toronto can stand here and look back on a century that has been more peaceful than the century we are looking back upon from this moment in time," he said.
- With files from Siobhan Morris and Jackie Rosen