As the wind cut across Parliament Hill yesterday, Chief Justice Richard Wagner took the ceremonial role normally held by Governor General Mary Simon at the national Remembrance Day ceremony. Simon’s absence—her second major event missed in recent weeks—was confirmed late Sunday by Rideau Hall officials citing an undisclosed illness.
Wagner, stepping in as the constitutional stand-in, laid the first wreath at the National War Memorial while thousands of Canadians braved temperatures hovering just above freezing. The ceremony proceeded with its familiar solemnity despite the last-minute change in dignitaries.
“The Governor General sends her deepest regrets,” said Rideau Hall spokesperson Mathieu Bouchard in a statement obtained Sunday evening. “Her Excellency considers Remembrance Day a sacred obligation and is disappointed she cannot fulfill this duty personally this year.”
This marks the second consecutive major ceremonial absence for Simon. Last month, she was unable to deliver the Speech from the Throne, with Wagner also stepping in for that constitutional function. The pattern has raised quiet questions in Ottawa circles about the 77-year-old Governor General’s health.
Defence Minister Bill Blair, attending his first Remembrance Day in his new portfolio, told reporters the ceremony’s meaning transcends any single participant. “Today belongs to those who served and sacrificed. While we certainly miss Her Excellency’s presence, the focus remains where it should—on our veterans and those we’ve lost.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who laid the second wreath, avoided addressing Simon’s absence directly when questioned. “Today we stand united in remembrance, reflecting on service and sacrifice across generations,” Trudeau said while greeting veterans after the ceremony.
According to constitutional expert Philippe LagassĂ© of Carleton University, the Chief Justice’s role as Administrator of Government is a well-established constitutional mechanism. “When the Governor General is temporarily unable to perform duties, the Administrator seamlessly steps in. There’s no constitutional crisis here, just the system working as designed,” LagassĂ© explained in a phone interview.
Simon, appointed in July 2021 as Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General, has generally maintained a full schedule of duties throughout her tenure. Her office indicated she hopes to resume her regular schedule “in the coming days” but provided no specific timeline or details about her condition.
The Royal Canadian Legion, which organizes the national ceremony, made quick adjustments to accommodate the change. Dominion President Bruce Julian noted, “The ceremony itself remains unchanged in its purpose and meaning. We’re grateful the Chief Justice could represent the Crown at such short notice.”
Veterans Affairs data shows about 800 Second World War veterans remain alive in Canada today, with their average age now exceeding 97. Fewer than a dozen were able to attend the national ceremony, a stark reminder of our fading living connection to that conflict.
Among those attending was 98-year-old RCAF veteran Eleanor Mitchell from Kingston, who served as a radio operator. “I’ve missed very few Remembrance Days in my life,” she said. “It doesn’t matter who lays the wreaths—what matters is that we remember.”
The ceremony included the traditional two minutes of silence, the playing of the Last Post, and the recitation of “In Flanders Fields.” Royal Canadian Air Force flyovers proceeded as planned, though one aircraft was grounded due to mechanical issues—another small adjustment in a ceremony that saw several this year.
Similar ceremonies took place in communities across Canada, from Legion halls in small towns to provincial legislatures. In St. John’s, ceremonies began earlier due to the time difference, with Newfoundland and Labrador Lieutenant Governor Judy Foote presiding.
Parliament Hill will resume normal operations tomorrow, but the temporary change in ceremonial leadership has added a footnote to this year’s remembrance events. Constitutional observers note this type of substitution has happened before without incident, including during MichaĂ«lle Jean’s tenure in 2010 when illness briefly sidelined her.
As for Simon, government sources speaking on background suggest her schedule may be lightened in coming weeks, though no official changes have been announced. Her next major public appearance is scheduled for the diplomat’s ball in early December—an event that traditionally caps the capital’s fall social calendar.
“The role of Governor General requires significant stamina,” noted former Rideau Hall communications director Marjory LeBreton. “The schedule is demanding at any age, with long days of standing, travel, and constant public engagement. Even minor health issues can be magnified by the position’s requirements.”
As Ottawa returned to its regular rhythm today, the brief constitutional improvisation served as a reminder of the quiet institutional mechanisms that support Canada’s governance—mechanisms most citizens rarely notice until they’re activated on ceremonial days like yesterday.
