Bill 65, Remembrance Day Observance Act, 2025

NOTE

The Bill amends the Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week Act, 2024 to provide that every school shall hold a dedicated service for Remembrance Day for students and that the Ministry of Education shall develop an elementary school curriculum and secondary school curriculum regarding the purpose and importance of Remembrance Day. The Act is also amended to provide that, subject to regulations made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, no workplace shall operate from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Remembrance Day.

Bill 65 2025

An Act to amend the Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week Act, 2024 with respect to schools and workplaces

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1 The Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week Act, 2024 is amended by adding the following sections:

Services in schools

7 (1)  Every school shall hold a dedicated service for Remembrance Day for students to attend on the 11th day of November or, when the 11th day of November is a Saturday or a Sunday, on the Friday preceding the 11th day of November.

Same

(2)  A service referred to in subsection (1) may consist of one or more of the following:

    1.  A school trip to visit a cenotaph commemorating soldiers.

    2.  A wreath laying at the school.

    3.  An assembly with guest speakers.

    4.  A musical tribute.

    5.  Any other service that, for the purpose of observing Remembrance Day, commemorates soldiers who have died in war.

Same

(3)  A service referred to in subsection (1) shall not consist solely of prerecorded material.

School curriculum

8 (1)  The Ministry of Education shall develop an elementary school curriculum and secondary school curriculum regarding the purpose and importance of Remembrance Day.

Same

(2)  The curriculum shall include content related both to historical and modern military conflicts.

Same

(3)  In developing the curriculum, the Ministry shall consult with educators and unions representing educators.

Workplace closures

9 (1)  Subject to any regulation made under subsection (2), no workplace shall operate from 9 am to 1 pm on Remembrance Day.

Regulations

(2)  The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations setting out exceptions to subsection (1).

Commencement

2 This Act comes into force on June 1, 2026.

Short title

3 The short title of this Act is the Remembrance Day Observance Act, 2025.