Schools throughout SJASD hosted Remembrance Day services this week to honour and remember the sacrifices of current and former service members. At least 11 current or former service members provided keynote addresses at 10 school assemblies this year, along with military buglers and other representatives—adding their experience and perspective to a time of solemn reflection.

​
John Taylor Collegiate Remembers

Captain Mary-Anne Saciuk from the 1 Canadian Air Division (pictured above, left), and Seargent Errol McKay from the Royal Winnipeg Rifles (pictured above, centre) spoke to over 500 students and staff at John Taylor Collegiate during the school's Remembrance Day service on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, while Master Corporal Jordan Smale from RFAC (pictured above, right) performed The Last Post and the Reveille.

Captain Saciuk spoke about her work experiences, and the impact Remembrance Day has on past and current members today.

“It is important to get the perspective of those who are currently serving and connect past, present, and future CAF members to understand and see what we are doing within our own communities as well," she says.

Captain Saciuk is currently one of the lead individuals developing a new Security Forces occupation within RCAF to meet evolving operational requirements. Security Forces (SecFor) was announced by RCAF in August, and will provide a higher level of security as RCAF introduces advanced air and space systems. She was awarded the King's Coronation Medal for her organizational role in the deployment of Aircraft Security Officers for the evacuations from Sudan. She also participated in the 45th and 49th World Military Fencing Championships.
“It is nice that people who are interested can ask questions and hear what happened," she adds.

Seargent Errol McKay spoke about his experience with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. He explains that participating in the service is his way of showing others that are currently serving that “we want to give back."

“It allows us to share our lived experience and makes the Remembrance Day ceremonies more authentic," he adds.

Seargent McKay is from Fisher River Cree Nation and is taking Law at the University of Manitoba. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2019 and is part of the oldest infantry reserve unit in Western Canada. He was deployed to Latvia in Operation Reassurance to deter and defend with NATO allies on the Eastern Flank. He also served during operation Laser—a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He's currently training and receiving mentorship through the 38th Brigade Battle School.

Seargent McKay received a gift of tobacco from organizers for participating in the service.

Master Corporal Jordan Smale says it was an honour to perform The Last Post and the Reveille.

“We need to remember those who fought for our freedom and liberated other places in the world," he said. “We need to keep the tradition moving forward and remembering those who serve."

All guest speakers and performers received a poppy beaded by John Taylor students and a thank you card. The school also made a donation in their honour to the Royal Canadian Air Force Foundation, which celebrates RCAF history and provides scholarships to youth. 

​​​​​

Linwood School Remembers

Sailor First Class Jaclyn Loganberg from the Naval Reserves spoke to staff and students at Linwood School at their service on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

Sailor First Class Loganberg serves with HMCS Chippawa, a land-based Naval Reserve Division in Winnipeg, where she sings and plays multiple instruments in the naval band (pictured above left), including clarinet, saxophone, and piano. In her full-time career, she taught Band at Maples Collegiate for 30 years (pictured above right).

“I'm in the military. If there's a danger to Canada, or people who live here, our job is to keep Canada safe. We also work with Canada's friends to protect people in other parts of the world," she said while addressing Kindergarten to Grade 5 students.

After playfully quizzing students on the number of active service members in Canada (there are 100,000), she provided a brief overview of the number of roles in the Canadian Forces and spoke to students about how she came to serve.

“I'm in the Reserves, and that means it's my part-time job. I joined when I was 17 years old to help pay for university. And when I chose my trade, I decided to become a musician. We have a very ceremonial role, and I have played hundreds of concerts for important people, all around Canada, like Prime Ministers, and other members of parliament, as well as performing for sailors that just came home from abroad. However—as every other reservist—I'm also trained to put out fires, give first aid, and handle a rifle safely."

Lessons in Courage from Winnie The Pooh

Sailor First Class Loganberg then retold the real-life, local military story behind beloved children's character Winnie The Pooh. At the beginning of World War I, Army veterinarian Lieutenant Harry Colebourn bought an orphaned black bear cub (pictured above, left) on a train ride to military training camp. Winnie (named after Winnipeg, where he had lived and worked for the Department of Agriculture), became the mascot of the Fort Garry Horse. Lieutenant Colebourn took Winnie to England before surrendering her to the London Zoo, where she would capture the imagination of a small boy named Christopher Robin Milne (pictured above, right).

“Winnie did something incredible for the troops, she lifted their morale," explained Sailor First Class Loganberg. “On the long train journey, she played hide and seek with the soldiers, she marched alongside them during training, and even learned how to stand up and salute the officers. She slept under [Lieutenant Harry Colebourn] cot. Whenever the soldiers felt worried or homesick, they would look at Winnie and she would bring a smile to their faces. She reminded them of the home they were fighting to protect."

The real-life story would go on to inspire A. A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh series, which was first published in 1926.

“In the military, we are taught to have courage. And courage doesn't just mean fighting. It's about stepping up to protect those that can't protect themselves," she explained. “So the next time you read about Winnie the Pooh, I want you to remember what it really means to wear a military uniform. It means having the courage to care, looking out for your team's morale, and remembering that a single act of kindness by a soldier from Winnipeg could change the world forever."

Linwood's service included military bugler Sailor Third Class Itay Gordon and piper Kevin McIntyre. Military family members also supported students in laying wreaths during the service. The school choir had their debut performance, singing choral arrangements of One Day, Light a Candle, and This is My Wish.

 

Across the Division

In addition to Captain Saciuk, Seargent McKay, Sailor First Class Loganberg, and Master Corporal Smale, schools also heard keynote addresses from multiple current and former service members, including, but not limited to:

• Major Claude Faucher, 17 Wing (École Assiniboine)
• Sergeant Kevin Malloway, SARTEC (Ecole Bannatyne)
• Chief Squadron Warrant Officer Justin St. Onge, 17 MSS (Ecole Robert Browning)
• Major Trevor Reid, RCAF (Phoenix School)
• Captain Kevin Linklater, RCAF (Sansome School)
• Lieutenant Manuella Francois St-Cyr, 17 Wing (Ecole Ness)
• Captain Gordon Tait, RCAF (George Waters Middle School/St. James Collegiate Institute)
• Lieutenant-Colonel (retired) James R. Popplow CD, RCAF (Lincoln Middle School)

Additional current and former service members also participated in assemblies throughout the Division by laying wreaths, reciting poems, playing instruments, serving in honour guards, and more.

Many schools also invited guests from a number of community service organizations including, but not limited to, the Kiwanis Club, Cadets, and Scouts/Girl Guides.