A Remembrance Day ceremony in downtown Barrie attracted thousands of spectators.
Young and old lined the streets to watch a parade of veterans, cadets and emergency services members march to the cenotaph at Memorial Square.
Dignitaries included Mayor Jeff Lehman, MPs John Brassard, Alex Nuttall and MPP Ann Hoggarth.
A lone boot, recently brought to Barrie from Vimy Ridge, was placed at the base of the cenotaph.
"It is a privilege to speak to you today in a city and a county with a long and honourable military tradition," said Brigadier-General Gary Thomson.
"There's a modern myth that Canada is and has always been a peacekeeping nation. Nothing could be further from the truth."
Thomson noted that Canada has a long tradition of army, navy and air force winning battles.
"We have literally fought for the rights and the freedoms we all enjoy now and sometimes take for granted while they weren't just granted. They were won by Canadians who laid their lives on the line and many of whom did not come home," he said.
Thomson said it was fitting on Remembrance Day to recall the words attributed to U.S. Marine Corps Chaplin Denis O'Brien.
"It is the soldier not the reporter who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier not the campus organizer who has given us freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, not the lawyer who has given us the right to a fair trial," he quoted.
"Their sacrifice should remind us that the price of freedom as well as the price of peace is expensive. It is a price we all have to share to stand up to the principals upon which Canada was founded."
Imam Mohammad Dawood Khalid of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at Canada also spoke at the ceremony.
"We have 200 plus membership in the Muslim community in Barrie. Our motto is love for all. Hatred for none. The community left their homeland due to persecution and found Canada to be their new home, a country which welcomed us with love and compassion and gave us the religious freedom."
He quoted the Prophet Muhammad.
"If you're not thankful to the people, you're not thankful to the creator. So therefore thank you Canada. God bless Canada."
Barrie Firefighter Judith Myddelton sang the national anthem and a bugler and bagpiper played during the ceremony.
