Mount Pleasant Group Marks Remembrance Week 2026 with Ceremonies Across the GTA
Mount Pleasant Group (MPG) is marking Remembrance Week 2026 with a series of ceremonies across the Greater Toronto Area, honouring generations of Canadians who served and sacrificed.
Taking place from November 4 to 11, the commemorations include a tribute to First World War fighter pilot William G. Barker, the group’s first Indigenous Veterans Day ceremony, and Remembrance Day services at cemetery locations across the region.
The events are especially meaningful during Mount Pleasant Group’s 200th anniversary year. They also recognize the importance of cemeteries as places where communities can remember history, honour loved ones, and reflect on the contributions of those who served.
Honouring First World War Hero William G. Barker on November 4
One of the featured events will honour LCol William G. Barker, VC, a highly decorated Canadian military hero and First World War fighter pilot who is laid to rest at Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
Organized in partnership with the Royal Canadian Air Force Foundation, the November 4 commemoration will include a monument unveiling, a parade, and the launch of the Lights of Remembrance.
The afternoon schedule includes:
- 1:30 PM: Unveiling of a new monument honouring LCol William G. Barker at Scrivener Square in Toronto
- 2:30 PM: Parade along Yonge Street
- 3:30 PM: Launch of the Lights of Remembrance at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery Mausoleum
The events will offer opportunities for the public and media to take part in the tribute and reflect on Barker’s place in Canadian military history.
For additional details and RSVP information, visit the Royal Canadian Air Force Foundation’s Remembrance Week page.
Mount Pleasant Group Holds Its First Indigenous Veterans Day Ceremony
On Sunday, November 8, Mount Pleasant Group will hold its first Indigenous Veterans Day ceremony at Pine Hills Cemetery.
The gathering will recognize the service and sacrifices of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis veterans. It will begin at 10 AM at the cemetery’s Military Veterans Cenotaph.
Led by Elder, Reverend, and Oji-Cree Veteran Levi Samson Beardy, the ceremony will include a Sacred Fire, Pipe Ceremony, and Drumming.
This first Indigenous Veterans Day commemoration represents an opportunity to recognize Indigenous veterans and their contributions while creating a dedicated space for remembrance and reflection.
Remembrance Day Services Across the GTA on November 11
The commemorations will continue on Wednesday, November 11, with multiple Remembrance Day services across Mount Pleasant Group’s cemetery properties.
Families, veterans, community members, and visitors are invited to come together to honour those who served and sacrificed. These gatherings provide opportunities to pause, reflect, and remember the Canadians who contributed to the country’s history.
Since services will take place at multiple locations, visitors can check the Mount Pleasant Group events page for individual ceremony schedules, locations, and times.
A Meaningful Year for Mount Pleasant Group
The 2026 Remembrance Week ceremonies also form part of Mount Pleasant Group’s 200th anniversary year.
Established in 1826, the non-profit organization has served the Greater Toronto Area for two centuries. Today, it operates 10 non-denominational cemeteries, nine funeral centres, and four cremation centres.
Through its commemorative events, MPG continues to provide spaces where people from different communities can gather, remember, and honour the lives and service of generations before them.
How to Take Part in Remembrance Week 2026
Community members interested in attending the ceremonies can find more information through the event organizers’ websites.
Remembrance Week 2026 Schedule
- November 4, 2026: William G. Barker monument unveiling, parade, and Lights of Remembrance
- November 8, 2026: Indigenous Veterans Day ceremony at Pine Hills Cemetery, beginning at 10 AM
- November 11, 2026: Remembrance Day services at Mount Pleasant Group cemetery locations across the GTA
For the William G. Barker tribute, visit the Royal Canadian Air Force Foundation. For November 11 service details, visit Mount Pleasant Group’s events page.
As Remembrance Week unfolds, these ceremonies offer Toronto and GTA communities meaningful opportunities to honour veterans, recognize different histories of service, and remember the sacrifices made by generations of Canadians.
