11/10/2025
Every year on November 11, Canadians pause to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who served and died in war. Remembrance Day is not merely a ceremonial observance—it is a moral duty. It is our collective moment to remember the courage and suffering of the men and women who fought for freedom, justice, and democracy. For working people and trade unionists across Canada, it is also a time to recommit ourselves to peace, solidarity, and the values for which those lives were given.
From the trenches of the First World War to the beaches of Normandy, Canadians answered the call to defend not only their homeland but the ideals of liberty and equality that define it. Over 61,000 Canadians lost their lives in the First World War and more than 45,000 in the Second. They fought against tyranny and fascism — the darkest forces of the 20th century. Their sacrifices helped to liberate Europe from oppression and gave future generations the opportunity to live in a democratic society where rights and freedoms are protected.
The Confederation of Canadian Unions honours these sacrifices with deep gratitude. Many of those who served were working-class people: miners, railway workers, loggers, farmers, and factory hands—ordinary Canadians who found themselves thrust into extraordinary circumstances. They were men and women who believed in a better world and risked everything to achieve it. Their service reminds us that the struggle for freedom and justice has always been, at its heart, a struggle of working people standing together against oppression.
Fascism was not only a political system; it was a brutal assault on human dignity, democracy, and workers’ rights. It sought to destroy trade unions, silence dissent, and crush collective action. The victory over fascism during World War II was therefore not just a military triumph but a moral one—a victory for democracy, solidarity, and the power of people united in common cause. When Canadian soldiers liberated concentration camps, defended European cities, and helped end totalitarian rule, they were protecting the same values that trade unions fight for every day: equality, fairness, and respect for human life.
In the decades following the Second World War, Canada’s labour movement played a vital role in building the society those veterans fought to defend. Unions championed fair wages, workplace safety, universal health care, public education, and social programs that lifted millions out of poverty. These advances were possible only in a democracy—one made stronger by the blood, sacrifice, and determination of those who came before. That is why Remembrance Day is also a time for reflection within the labour movement. The freedoms we exercise today—to organize, to bargain collectively, to speak out against injustice—are freedoms that were preserved by those who paid the ultimate price.
But remembrance must never become routine or complacent. Honouring the dead means learning from their experiences and striving to prevent the same tragedies from happening again. War, even when fought for just causes, leaves devastation in its wake—broken families, displaced peoples, and generations haunted by trauma. The First and Second World Wars were supposed to be the wars that ended all wars, yet the world continues to see conflict, militarization, and violence fueled by greed, nationalism, and the pursuit of power.
As trade unionists, we know that peace is not simply the absence of war—it is the presence of justice. Peace is built when people have decent jobs, fair wages, equality, and a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. It is sustained when nations cooperate, when resources are shared equitably, and when workers across borders stand in solidarity with one another. That is the lesson of history and the responsibility of our generation.
