Every November 11th at the eleventh hour, life across Canada slows. Cars pause. Conversations soften. Generations stand shoulder-to-shoulder in silence. Around the lakes, forests, and small towns in Muskoka & the Parry Sound Region, the world seems to quiet just a little — as though nature itself is taking a breath with us.
Remembrance Day isn’t just a date on the calendar. It’s a reminder of how deeply our lives have been shaped by the courage and sacrifice of those who served, and continue to serve, our country.
Today, we take time to remember. But we also take time to reflect on what it means to live in the peace, opportunity, and community they fought for.
As a realtor, a mom, a daughter, and a proud Canadian, this day holds meaning that goes beyond ceremony. It’s about how we show up in our communities, how we care for each other, and how we honour legacy in everyday choices.
🇨🇦 Lest we forget, not just today, but always.
The Weight of a Moment of Silence
If you’ve ever stood at a cenotaph ceremony in Bracebridge, Huntsville, Gravenhurst, Parry Sound, Port Carling, Bala, Rosseau, McDougall, Magnetawan, Burk’s Falls, Sundridge, or any of the small rural towns that make up our region, you know the feeling.
You can hear the wind, You can hear the quiet breathing of the person beside you, And you can feel, in your chest, the heavy stillness of remembrance.
That silence holds:
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Stories of bravery
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Letters sent home
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Sacrifices made here and across the world
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Lives forever changed
For some families, that silence holds names. For others, it holds gratitude beyond words.
Honouring Service Through How We Live Today
When we think of legacy, we often think backwards — of history, dates, events.
But legacy is also built forward, in how we choose to live now.
The peace we enjoy today allows us to:
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Build homes and futures for our families
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Live in places where nature nurtures us
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Dream about tomorrow, instead of just surviving today
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Share meals and moments with the people we love
Not everyone, in every era, had that privilege.
For many, the dream was simply peace.
So when we gather by the fire, walk the shoreline, call a friend, or build lives filled with meaning — we are living in the world they hoped for.
A Story Close to Home
Many families across Muskoka & Parry Sound carry personal stories of service.
Some were proudly shared — stories of uniforms, regiments, and ships at sea. Others were quiet — tucked into drawers, locked behind distant eyes, never spoken aloud.
Maybe you remember:
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A set of medals wrapped carefully in cloth
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A photograph yellowed with time
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A ring with a regiment number
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Or simply a long silence when the topic came up
Even generations later, the emotion remains.
This is remembrance. This is family history woven into who we are today.
Community, Care, and Being There for One Another
One of the things that makes Muskoka & Parry Sound so special is how people show up for each other.
When a neighbour needs support, we step in. When someone says “I’m fine,” we check again. When a family is carrying more than they can manage, the community surrounds them.
This is peace — not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of connection.
Peace is:
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Being seen
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Being supported
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Belonging
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Shared responsibility
These are the values our veterans protected.
Learning From the Past to Build the Future
Remembrance Day is not about glorifying war, It’s about acknowledging sacrifice — and choosing to build a kinder, more compassionate world in response.
We honour those who served when we:
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Choose dialogue over division
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Offer understanding instead of judgment
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Build communities where everyone is welcome
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Ensure veterans and elders are respected, supported, and never forgotten
We honour them through how we treat one another.
Today, Take a Moment
Wherever you find yourself at 11 a.m., pause.
Step outside. Look toward the sky or the treeline. Let the quiet settle.
Remember:
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Those who served
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Those who never came home
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Those who came home changed
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The families who waited, prayed, and hoped
Your moment of remembrance matters.
Closing Thoughts
My work in real estate has always been about more than properties.
It’s about home. Safety. Roots. Connection. Future. Family.
These are the very things Remembrance Day asks us to value and protect.
So today, and every day,
Be where you want to be. Be where your heart feels grounded. Be where community feels real. Be where peace feels possible.
🕊️ Lest we forget.
With Respect & Remembrance,
Lisa Muskoka & Parry Sound Real Estate “Be where you want to be.”
🇨🇦 #RemembranceDay ❤️ #LestWeForget 🌲 #Muskoka 🌊 #ParrySound 🏡 #CommunityMatters 💫 #BeWhereYouWantToBe
