Remembrance Week kicked off in Barrie with the raising of the Poppy Flag at city hall.
Mayor Jeff Lehman did the honours to mark the beginning of what he called a season of remembrance.
"We'll hope for weather this good a week from now. It's like July," he said as he raised the flag on behalf of city council.
The solemn ceremony which included a colour guard was bathed in unusually warm November sunshine.
Poppy campaign chairwoman Mary-Florence Bartley thanked people for keeping Remembrance Day alive.
"This is the last generation that will be able to speak face to face with veterans of the Korean War and the Second World War and thank them for doing what they did," she told the crowd.
Barrie Legion President Phil George says the annual poppy campaign is now underway.
"Last year we donated back $113,000 to the Barrie area," said George.
George is a former OPP officer who served in Afghanistan for the RCMP after his retirement.
Barrie-Innisfil MP John Brassard, Barrie Fire Chief John Lynn and Police Chief Kimberley Greenwood also attended the ceremony.
