South Muskoka

November 11, 2026

On The Upside with Marley

Remembering Is Something We Do Together

Every November 11, we stop for a moment and remember people most of us never had the opportunity to meet.

We remember young Canadians who left their families, their jobs, and their plans for the future. We remember those who never came home, those who returned carrying wounds we could see, and those who carried memories that stayed with them for a lifetime.

It can be difficult to imagine the uncertainty they faced. For many of us, war is something we have read about, watched in documentaries, or heard described by an older relative. For them, it was daily life.

Remembrance Day isn’t about celebrating war. It’s about recognizing its terrible cost, honouring those who served, and appreciating how precious peace really is.

And perhaps it asks something of us, too.

We can’t change what happened generations ago. But we can decide how we treat the people sharing our world today. We can choose patience over hostility, understanding over suspicion, and compassion over indifference. We can disagree without turning our neighbours into enemies.

Those choices may seem small beside the sacrifices we remember. Yet a peaceful community is built, in part, through the ordinary ways people care for one another.

At eleven o’clock today, many of us will stand quietly for two minutes. We may think of a family member, a name on a cenotaph, or someone serving far from home.

Then the moment will end, and life will carry on. The real opportunity is to let that moment influence what comes next. Perhaps we can thank a veteran, listen to a story from an older neighbour, or teach a child why the poppy matters. Remembering becomes more meaningful when we pass it along.

Remember their sacrifice. Appreciate our peace. And whenever you can, help make the world a little more worthy of both.

Why the Poppy Became a Symbol of Remembrance

The red poppy is a familiar sight on Canadian coats each November. Its connection to remembrance reaches back to the First World War and the fields of Europe, where poppies grew in landscapes devastated by fighting.

Canadian physician and soldier John McCrae gave the flower lasting meaning in his poem In Flanders Fields. After the war, the poppy became a symbol of remembrance for those who died in military service.

Today, wearing one is a simple, visible gesture. It does not mean every Canadian has the same view of every war. It means taking a moment to acknowledge the people whose lives were changed or lost in service.

On November 11, ceremonies across Canada bring neighbours together at cenotaphs, schools and community gathering places. Even if you cannot attend, a quiet moment of reflection can carry the same sincere respect.

The Surprising Benefits of Learning Something New

There is something satisfying about finally understanding a skill that once seemed impossible. It might be learning three guitar chords, identifying birds at the feeder, fixing a bicycle or figuring out a feature on your phone.

Learning gives us more than a useful ability. It introduces variety into familiar routines, provides a sense of progress and often connects us with people who share our curiosity.

The trick is to begin small. Choose one thing you genuinely want to know, find a patient teacher or a trustworthy guide, and allow yourself to be a beginner. Nobody starts out knowing everything.

A few minutes of practice can be more valuable than a grand plan that never begins. This week, give yourself permission to be curious about something completely new.

The Library Mystery

A man walked into the library and asked the librarian for a book about finding lost things. She checked the catalogue, frowned, and said, “That’s odd. We had three copies yesterday, but nobody can find them.”

A Very Careful Driver

A driving instructor asked his student, “What would you do if you saw a sign that said ROAD CLOSED?” The student thought for a moment. “I’d turn around.” “Excellent,” said the instructor. “And if you saw a sign that said DETOUR?” “I’d ask who Tour is and why we’re looking for him.”

The Restaurant Critic

A customer waved the waiter over. “There’s a fly in my soup!” The waiter leaned in, studied the bowl and said, “You’re right, sir. I’ll bring you a spoon. He’s much too small for a fork.”

The Garden Expert

A neighbour admired a man’s enormous tomatoes. “What’s your secret?” she asked. “I talk to my plants every morning,” he said. “Does that really help?” “I’m not sure,” he admitted, “but the weeds seem frightened enough to leave.”

The New Smartphone

A grandmother proudly announced that she had bought her first smartphone. “Now I can ask it anything!” she said. Her grandson smiled. “What have you asked so far?” “Mostly where I put my glasses so I can read the answers.”

Editor’s Quote Book

“Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind.”

— John F. Kennedy

Trivia Quiz

(Click Question For Answer)

Your Horoscope

For Amusement Only

The Magic Tractor

Why is a tractor magical?

Because it can drive down the road and turn into a field!

A Little Wine

What did the grape say when the elephant stepped on it?

Nothing. It just let out a little wine!

Fish and Chips

A customer walked into a fish-and-chip shop and said, “Fish and chips twice, please.”

The cashier replied, “I heard you the first time!”

Chess Nuts

A group of chess players were asked to leave a hotel lobby after loudly discussing their victories.

The manager couldn’t stand chess nuts boasting in an open foyer!

The Caterpillars

Two caterpillars were crawling along a leaf when a butterfly flew overhead.

One turned to the other and said, “You’ll never get me up in one of those things!”

Marley’s Video Pick

Revisiting Remembrance — Canadian Armed Forces

On Remembrance Day, this Canadian retrospective offers a chance to reflect on how our understanding of service and sacrifice has developed over time. It honours those who served in earlier wars and invites us to remember Canadians who took part in more recent missions as well.

The Last Word

“The most meaningful way to honour a peaceful future is to practise peace in the present.”