Remembrance Day – Statement from the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour
On November 11, workers and families across Nova Scotia and all over will pause to honour the brave men and women who served, sacrificed, and never returned home. We also honour those who came back forever changed by the experience of war. Their courage helped build the freedoms, rights, and democracy we benefit from today. For the labour movement, Remembrance Day is not only about looking back. It is a reminder of our duty to protect peace, defend democracy, and stand up for fairness in every generation.
Many of the rights workers have today, like union protections, decent wages, healthcare, and public pensions, were won because veterans returned from war, believing a better country was possible. They knew sacrifice must mean something. They expected a Canada where no one was left behind. As we lay wreaths and observe a moment of silence, we also think of the working people who served on the front lines, in factories, in shipyards, in hospitals, in communications, and in every sector that supported Canada’s war effort.
We remember the families who carried the weight of worry and loss at home. We recognize Indigenous, Black, and racialized veterans whose service was often met with discrimination instead of gratitude. We also commit to telling their stories. Today, we also stand with the thousands of Canadian Armed Forces members and veterans living with injuries, trauma, homelessness, and financial hardship. “Lest we forget” must mean more than words.
It means fighting for a country that supports veterans not only with thanks, but with actions such as providing proper healthcare, fair pensions, and dignity in their civilian lives. War should teach us the value of peace, the cost of hate, and the importance of solidarity. As workers, we believe the best way to honour the fallen is to build a society based on justice, equality, and respect, where every person, regardless of their uniform or workplace, can live and work in safety. On this Remembrance Day, the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour encourages everyone to take time to remember, reflect, and recommit to the work of building a better world.
May we honour the past not only with silence, but with purpose.
We will remember them.
