Heritage Regina Holds “Stories of Veterans” Ahead of Remembrance Day

On November 7, Heritage Regina held a special lecture “Stories of Veterans: A Tribute to Military Service in Saskatchewan” at The Artesian. We were honoured to have three fantastic speakers join us to share their perspectives:

  • Paul Viquette, a retired 22-year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces. Paul is currently the Provincial Homelessness Representative & Provincial Service Officer for the Royal Canadian Legion – Saskatchewan Command. Paul spoke about the benefits that the Legion’s Poppy Fund provides for veterans in need year-round; a video of his presentation can be found on our social media channels.
  • Mark Cote, an instructor in the department of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Regina. He is the author of That Lucky Old Son: Re-discovering my father through his World War II Bomber Command and POW experiences, and spoke of the service of his father, Leonard Cote, and that of Leonard’s comrades in the 158 Squadron of the Royal Air Force.
  • James Pratt, an instructor in the Justice Studies program at Sask Polytech. He is originally from the Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation, and served in the RCMP, Canadian Armed Forces and Regina City Police throughout his career. His father, William Pratt, was a sapper in the Royal Canadian Engineer’s Corp. during the Second World War.

We also had a display at the event that honoured the contributions of Indigenous veterans to Canada. James touched on the treatment that Indigenous veterans underwent upon their return to Canada after serving in wartime, despite their enormous contributions to the war effort.

We’re grateful to the Royal Canadian Legion – Saskatchewan Command for sponsoring this event. Donations to the Legion’s Poppy Fund can be made on the Legion’s website, linked above.

For more information about Mark’s father, and to find his book, visit his website: That Lucky Old Son

As we near Remembrance Day, we are reflecting on the countless contributions of service members and their families, past and present, and are proudly wearing our poppies in tribute to those who never came home.

“We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.”

-Lt. Col. John McCrae, In Flanders Fields

Earlier this week, the Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan held a virtual presentation entitled “Nursing Sisters of the First World War”, with perspective from Mélanie Morin-Pelletier, a Historian at the Canadian War Museum and Brynne Martin, a Reference Archivist with the Archives and a member of Heritage Regina’s board of directors! You can find the presentation here: