ae retaeleycrece ae DEV bem ean Ee a yaa ab tomtcct-h a med es a century since World War I ended Katie Czenczek News Editor his Remembrance Day, hundreds stood outside of New Westminster City Hall to honour the lives of those lost in battle. On an unusually sunny November morning, people of various ages and backgrounds attended the Remembrance Day ceremony in New Westminster. The ceremony commenced at 10:30 am, with Mayor Jonathan Coté as the main speaker at the event. The theme for this year specifically honoured the Merchant Marine—Canadians who served aboard merchant ships—in the First World War. This year’s Remembrance Day held a special importance because it has been 100 years since the First World War ended on November nu, 1918. Ultimately, that is how the holiday came to be in the first place—the idea was to have Remembrance Day act as a reminder of the tragedy that war brings, in order to prevent future wars. Unfortunately, only two decades later the Second World War began, which led to an entire generation of trauma that continues to affect people to this day. An estimated 16 million people died in World War I. Over 1,400 of those who gave their lives were from the Royal Westminster Regiment, according to the New West Record. Robert MacNevin, an attendee at the ceremony, said in an interview with the Other Press that he has personal ties to the Canadian Army. “My grandfather fought in World War X: Anew way forward for non- binary people » BC makes it legal to identity as X on government ID Katie Czenczek News Editor Li: been a long road for those who identity as neither female nor male, and now the BC government has taken a step to make documentation more inclusive. A November 2 press release stated that the provincial government has plans in store for people to have a third gender option on their BC driver's licence, identity card, birth certificate, and BC Services Card. As of November 1, people can apply to change their gender designation on BC documentation by completing a form. Dr. Marria Townsend, the medical director for Trans Care BC, said in the press release that this will positively impact the non-binary community in BC. “As a physician who works with trans and gender-diverse people, I have observed the multiple ways that non-binary people are invisiblized within our society, with negative impacts on their health and well- being,” said Townsend. “This is a positive step towards recognizing and affirming the humanity of those British Columbians who don't identify as male or female.” The press release also stated that the BC government is looking into how the province can move towards a non-medical model of gender identification for the future. BC was not the first province to add X as an option in Canada. In fact, the Northwest Territories, Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta, and Ontario already made these amendments. The federal government also allowed for people to identify as X on Canadian passports in 2017. This makes documentation difficult for non-binary people living in provinces Have an idea for a story? Mi news@theotherpress.ca land my father in World War IJ,” he said. “They didn’t make it home, but my uncle did. He died this year at 97 years old and had been going to these ceremonies every year. It’s important to [my wife and I] to honour them.” Dogfighter planes from the Royal Canadian Air Force flew overhead City Hall. They flew in fours and were replicas of the planes used in the First and Second World Wars. These demonstrations took place throughout the ceremony and at one point occurred just as trumpeters played “Last Post/Rouse.’ Speeches about the Merchant Marine were interspersed with songs from New West’s own army bands, which included a bagpipe performance. There was also a heavy security and police presence at the ceremony, with ¢ BC government set to create new human rights commission ¢ Coffee House chat tackles reproductive rights ..and more! Photo by Katie Czenczek officers carrying rifles on top of nearby skyscrapers. The final song played was “God Save the Queen” before various members of the Canadian Military marched on Royal Avenue. Once the speeches and songs were over, community members from New Westminster laid wreaths at the foot of the cenotaph and people lined up to attach their poppies onto white crosses to honour those who died. MacNevin said that he was very impressed with the ceremony. “We just moved here from Ottawa, and this was the best ceremony we've been to since I went to the Cenotaph asa kid” he said. “T know it’s a sunny day and all, but there was a big turnout and it’s nice to see people still paying their respects.” E Claas: § ate who don‘ have a third gender option on documentation. Melissa Chirino, Pride Representative for the DSU, said in a phone interview with the Other Press that she thinks the change is great news but worries it will make people who change their documentation to X vulnerable in other countries. “I think that it’s going to give people more freedom to express their gender identity,’ she said. “That’s a really good thing it’s giving space for that. The only other thing is that it could create danger for them if they’re travelling to a country that discriminates against members of the LGBTQ+ community, so that’s the only issued: 2018-Nov-01 Expires; 2023-Aug-03 Resirictiong Achar aera | WE ne Ht-183 cm Eyes BRN = Hair: BRN TERETE DL:1234567 pos: 1973-Aug-03 Photo by Province of British Columbia on Flickr thing to think about. That people might need to be more careful with travelling and to double check where they're going and if the country sees being [in] the LGBTQ+ community as a crime or not.” In 2007, Nepal was the first country in the world to officially offer an additional gender option other than “male” or “female.” So far, there are only a handful of countries that legally recognize a third gender option for people. The BC government is also handing out Gender Information Cards for those who choose to identify as X on their driver’s licences and other IDs to better inform the public.