Smaller, private service for Remembrance Day in Charlottetown

Charlottetown's Remembrance Day service wasa smaller-than-usualceremony.

Typically, there are thousands in attendance for the service held downtown but it is not open to the public this year.Because of COVID-19, some communities have cancelled services altogether, while some areholdingsmaller public services, andsome are holding events with just veterans, their families and dignitaries.

Hereis a list of serviceshappening across the province.

'The ultimate sacrifice'

Participants including local politicians and military representatives arrived starting at 10:30.

The service started at 10:50, led by Maj. Rev. Tom Hamilton, who is the Legion padreandmilitary chaplain to the P.E.I.Regiment, and leads the congregation at St. Mark's Presbyterian church in Charlottetown.

Two minutesof silence were observed at 11 a.m., followed by prayer and laying of wreaths at the foot of the cenotaph.

Hamilton's speechfocused on Canadian peacekeepers who patrolled what was called the "green line" between hostile forcesin Cyprus in the 1960s and 70s, particularlyMaster Cpl.John McInnis from Charlottetown, who served in both the army and navy and had been posted to units across Canada.

McInnis died in 1980 on his third deployment to Cyprus,hoursbefore he was to finish his missionand board a plane to return home to P.E.I.

His brother,retiredcaptain Jim McInnis, laida wreath on behalf of his mother Winnifred McInnis,this year's Memorial Cross Mother for P.E.I.

"We are here to honour the courage of Canadians who answered the call to serve. Today we pause to remember and give thanks for the countless Islanders who donned military uniforms to serve Canada, and especially for those who like Master Cpl. McInnis made the ultimate sacrifice," Hamilton said.

"Through our act of remembrance we honour them and their families."

CBC will also be carrying a Remembrance Day special which can be streamed onCBC Gemandthe CBC News app.