A Remembrance Day message as prepared by Deputy Warden Dustin Enslow and read at Committee of the Whole on November 10th:

As we approach Remembrance Day, I want to take a moment to reflect on why this day still matters so deeply in 2025.

We often say, “Lest We Forget,” but that phrase is more than tradition. It’s a reminder that the freedoms we enjoy today, the ability to gather in this chamber, to debate, to disagree, and to build our communities, were secured by generations who served and sacrificed in ways most of us will never have to.

Across Annapolis County, from our cenotaphs to our legions to the families who still carry the stories of loved ones, remembrance is not about the past fading away. It’s about recognizing that the values those men and women fought for are the same values we are responsible for protecting today: democracy, peace, and the safety of our communities.

Tomorrow, when we stand for that moment of silence, we’re not just honouring history. We’re acknowledging the ongoing service of today’s veterans, the families who support them, and the reality that the impacts of service don’t end when the uniform comes off. Many in our own communities still carry those burdens every day.

So, I encourage all of us, both as councillors and neighbours, to be present on Remembrance Day. Attend a service, speak with a veteran, or simply take that minute to reflect. It’s a small act that ensures their sacrifices are never taken for granted.