'To all of our veterans, we have a simple, yet heartfelt message for you: thank you'

All over the province, at the eleventh hourof the eleventh day of the eleventh month, Manitobans congregated to remember those whoput their lives on the line in battle and those who did not come home.

Droves of veterans and citizens were in attendance at the Remembrance Day ceremony held at the RBC Convention Centre in downtown Winnipeg.

"To all of our veterans, we have a simple, yet heartfelt message for you: thank you," Warrant OfficerMaria Toonesaid to the crowd.

"We ask that we may be faithful stewards of the freedom that has been granted."

One such veteran is 101-year-old Ralph Wild.

Wild, who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Battle of Britain and later became a bomber pilot during the Second World War, was recognized for his service at the beginning of Monday's ceremony.

"I'm looking after the fellows that have gone before me, and the ones that have been lost along the way," Wild said about attending Remembrance Day ceremonies at his age.

"I like theidea of [the memory] being kept alive. Youth of today really shouldn't keep it in the background. You can read about it in books, but if it's kept alive on such an occasionlike this, I think it carries an awful lot more weight."

On Nov. 11, Wild wants nothing more then for peopleto take the time to "honour the sacrifices the fellows made on their behalf... so they don't die in vain."

Remembering the people who fought in wars so Canada could be a peaceful nation is why11-year-old Pathfinder Lacey Keewatincappowas handing out pamphlets at Monday's ceremony at the RBC Convention Centre.

"[Veterans] played a special role in this country and giving it peace,"Keewatincapposaid, adding thatthese sorts of ceremoniesmakes her want"do more to protect our Earth, instead of doing nothing and letting other people do it."

Meanwhile, hundreds of people withstoodfrigid temperatures to attend a ceremony at Vimy Ridge Memorial Park, where members of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles fired a 21-gun salute for fallen Canadian soldiers.

"It is just terrific to see people out, especially in this weather," said Royal Winnipeg Rifles veteran John Robins about Monday's turnout.

"We have so many good things in Canada, so many freedoms: freedom to say what we want, to be here and see this; the freedom to speak whatever language you want, to pray how you want if you want."

"These freedoms didn't come free. They were bought with blood, and it was the blood of veterans that did it," Robins said.

Robins, who joined the army in 1977, said he doesn't hold himself to the same standard as the people who fought in the First World War,Second World War, Koreaor Afghanistan.

"We all try to do our duty, but those are the guys who really carried the weight for us."

Poppy Blanket Project

A group of volunteers mostly from Manitoba have created a26 metrelong blanket made of more than 8,000 handmade poppies.

"The blanket is a telling of our respect, honour and thanks to all the veterans and fallen soldiers that have served Canada," said Sheilah Lee Restall, founder of the Poppy Blanket Project. "It's a tangible way for us to say thank you."

Restallwas scrolling through Reddit one day when she came across a post showing a blanket made of poppies that was createdin the United Kingdom.

"I really wish Icould have been a part of that project, so I figured, 'Let's see if we can do it here,' Restall told CBC News.

Restallreached out to a Facebook group called Handmade in Winnipeg, asking if anyone was interested. The answer was an overwhelming 'Yes.'

She then reached out to City of Winnipeg Counc. DeviSharma, who loved the idea and became a huge supporter.

"Everybody understands what we're trying to say with this blanket," Restall said. "Truly, that's the most important thing about it."

A portion of the blanket was shown at Sunday's Winnipeg Jets game, and it will be heading to the Manitoba Legislature next.