Hundreds gathered at Stride Place for Portage la Prairie’s annual Remembrance Day ceremony, marking the largest turnout since the COVID-19 pandemic. Local dignitaries, including Portage la Prairie MLA Jeff Bereza, RM of Portage councillor Roy Tufford, city councillor Faron Nicholls, and Portage-Lisgar MP Branden Leslie, placed wreaths at the cenotaph in a solemn tribute. Members of the Portage RCMP, military personnel, flight training cadets, and numerous families were also present, underscoring the community’s deep respect for Canada’s veterans. On Friday, Deputy Mayor Nicholls, councillor Ryan Doyle, and Mayor Sharilyn Knox attended the Indigenous Veterans Day ceremony held by the Manitoba Métis Federation at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #65. The ceremony honoured the significant contributions of Métis, First Nations, and Inuit veterans, whose service has often come with unique challenges.