In 2018, the City of Mons is preparing to celebrate the commemoration of the end of the First World War and the country’s liberation, in the presence of European and Canadian authorities. In this respect, the City of Mons wishes to cherish the memory of those who fought for their ideals and whose courage still resonates in hearts and memories.



Saturday 10 November 2018

 
 

Commemorative ceremony in the municipality of Quiévrain

The municipality of Quiévrain, the first to be entered by Canadian troops when they entered the Belgian territory, wishes to organise a remembrance event and a parade with the regiments present.
 

Remembrance ceremony at the Saint-Symphorien military cemetery.

Ceremony to remember the victims of the First World War, ranging from the first to the last Commonwealth soldier fallen here.
 

Inaugural and commemorative ceremony at the Price monument in Ville-sur-Haine

The municipality of Le Roeulx will inaugurate a new memorial in honour of the soldier Price near the place where he fell in 1918. A remembrance ceremony in his honour will be held on-site.
 

Commemorative ceremony in Soignies

The Town of Soignies wishes to organise a ceremony in the place where Canadian troops have stopped fighting when the bugle of the armistice rang on 11 November 1918 at 11:00 am. This place is even more symbolic as it is located exactly where the first skirmish between the British and the Germans broke out on 22 August 1914.


Great concerts at the city centre of Mons

When we speak about the Armistice and the Liberation of our city, the first words that come to mind are those of celebration. Therefore, we wish to organise popular dances with Canadian and Belgian artists.
 

Sunday 11 november 2018

 

From dawn
Remembrance march

The objective of this march is to follow in the footsteps of the Canadian soldiers during their entry into the Belgian territory until the Liberation of the city of Mons. This activity, like the marche of Nijmegen represents a performance of more than 25 kilometres in the morning departing from Quiévrain to Mons.

11:00 am
Commemorative ceremony at the municipal cemetery of Mons.

Like every year, the city of Mons will hold a ceremony at the municipal cemetery in honour of all the men who fell during the various conflicts in the world.

In the afternoon
Liberation parade at the Grand-Place of Mons

As in November 1918, we offer a big parade with all the Canadian regiments, the heirs of the regiments that took part in the «Pursuit of Mons» in order to remember their passage on the Grand-Place.

Military music concert

After the ceremonies, the music of the regiments will organise a concert of military music uniting bands of the various regiments.

Carillon concert

The highlight of the celebrations, the carillon of Mons, located in the belfry of the 16th century, and that of Ottawa, in the Tower of peace built at the end of the great war, could simultaneously play the tunes played in Mons by the bell ringer, during the arrival of Canadian troops.

A grandiose show

Combining mapping, artists and projections on the Grand-Place (from 27 October to 11 November) It is a general display on the façade of the City Hall of Mons (15th century) associated with projection-mapping technology. It will trace the history of Canadian Expeditionary troops in Europe, until the Liberation of Mons, narrated by the prism of the sacrificed life of the soldier George Price.