Honouring Remembrance Day: Reflection, Resilience, and the Human Cost of War

By Rose Degenhardt, MA, RCT, CCC

Founder & Clinical Director, Venture Counselling & Therapy Inc.

Posted: November 13, 2025

Why Remembrance Day Matters

Each November, Canadians pause to honour the courage and sacrifice of those who served—and those who continue to serve—during times of conflict. Remembrance Day, observed on November 11, is more than a moment of silence or the wearing of a poppy. It is a collective act of memory, a way of acknowledging the profound human cost of war, and an opportunity to reflect on our shared responsibility to build peace in the present.

For many, it is also deeply personal. It stirs family stories, histories of service, and sometimes the quiet grief of lives forever changed.

The Emotional Impact of War and Conflict

When we think of war, we often think of history books or ceremonies. But as a counsellor, I am reminded that the legacy of war is emotional as much as it is historical.

·       Veterans and their families often live with trauma, grief, and invisible wounds that linger long after their service.

·       Generations carry the intergenerational impact of conflict, sometimes silently.

·       For children and communities today, watching global conflicts unfold can create fear, insecurity, and anxiety about the future.

War doesn’t only take place on battlefields. It takes place in living rooms when a parent doesn’t come home. It takes place in the nervous systems of survivors who struggle to rest, to connect, or to find peace within themselves.

Personal Reflection

Growing up in foster care, I learned early about the fragility of safety and the strength it takes to survive hard realities. While my story isn’t one of military service, I deeply understand what it means to live in the shadow of fear and to long for peace.

On Remembrance Day, I carry both gratitude for those who have sacrificed and compassion for those who carry the emotional scars of conflict. And I reflect on how resilience is often born in the hardest of places.

Respecting Indigenous Peoples on Remembrance Day

In Nova Scotia, it is also important to recognize that Mi’kmaq and other Indigenous peoples have a long history of service and sacrifice, often unacknowledged. Indigenous veterans fought bravely in both World Wars and other conflicts, even while facing systemic inequities at home.

Remembrance Day offers us a chance not only to honour all who served, but also to acknowledge Indigenous knowledge, traditions, and ways of remembering. Many Indigenous ceremonies focus on healing, community, and restoring balance—values that remind us that peace is not only the absence of conflict, but the presence of respect and connection.

In honouring their contributions, we also commit to listening and learning, ensuring their stories are not overlooked in the larger narrative of remembrance.

Teaching the Next Generation

One of the most powerful aspects of Remembrance Day is how it brings communities together to teach children about courage, loss, and peace.

As parents and caregivers, it’s important to:

·       Talk openly about the meaning of Remembrance Day in age-appropriate ways

·       Encourage children to ask questions about history and what peace means today

·       Create rituals of remembrance, whether attending ceremonies, making art, or writing messages of thanks

These conversations help children develop empathy and an awareness that freedom, safety, and stability are not to be taken for granted.

Finding Peace Within Ourselves

While we honour the sacrifices of the past, we are also reminded of the importance of cultivating peace in our everyday lives.

That might look like:

·       Choosing compassion in our relationships

·       Working toward equity and justice in our communities

·       Supporting those who carry the weight of trauma

·       Creating safe spaces where stories can be told, and healing can begin

At Venture Counselling & Therapy Inc., we know that remembrance isn’t only about the past, it’s also about the present. Healing, resilience, and human dignity are things worth fighting for in every generation.

Final Thoughts

On this Remembrance Day, and in the days after, I invite you to pause—not just to look back, but to look within. What does peace mean to you? Where do you see courage, resilience, and hope around you today? And how can we honour the sacrifices of others by building a more compassionate, connected world?

Rose Degenhardt, MA, RCT, CCC

Founder & Clinical Director, Venture Counselling & Therapy Inc