Kipnes Remembrance Day 2026: Howard's story
Color Guards.
The Kipnes Centre for Veterans hosted its annual Remembrance Day celebration, an emotional tribute to Canada's veterans, including the residents of Kipnes. The ceremony began with March on the Colors. As the colour guards processed into the ceremony, their flags and uniforms accompanied with fellow veterans, it stood as a reminder of the traditions upheld by generations of Canadian servicemen and women. The Canadian National Anthem was sung, followed by prayers. Then came the reading of "In Flanders Field" by Howard Bowden, a resident of Kipnes, in the presence of his fellow veterans, his voice carried the weight of many experiences the men and women went through in that room.
Howard reading "In Flanders Field"
The Last Post then sounded through the room, and the community joined together in the Act of Remembrance, taking a moment to honor the sacrifices of those who served. Everyone made a commitment to remember, pledging to keep the stories and sacrifice of veterans alive. Then came the laying of wreaths, a quiet and respectful tribute. The ceremony concluded with the march off of the color guard, bringing the gathering to a heartfelt close.
Close up of the poppy flower pin.
Reading "In Flanders Field" was deeply personal for Howard. He is the youngest of four brothers, all of whom served in the military. "My oldest brother Chuck did 39 years, was the chief of artillery," Howard explained. "Chuck was the reason I joined. I joined because I wanted to be just like him." His brother John was a lab technician for the National Defense Medical Centre (NDMC) for 36 years. His brother Gary, closest to him in age, served 25 years. Together, the four brothers gave over a century to Canada.
Howard in his room.
Howard's journey began with a joke he still loves telling. "My first day in the Army was April Fool's 79'," he says with a chuckle. "And it was a joke ever since. I had a blast."
His military service took him from the Winnipeg floods, which he recalls as "crazy but very good" to Bosnia where he remembers stepping off the plane and it being in 45-degree heat unlike anything he had experienced before. Through it all his family remains at the heart of his life. Howard and his wife shared 46 years of marriage, building a life together filled with love, partnership, and memories. Losing her was one of the greatest heartbreaks he has endured, alongside the loss of his mother in 1990. A foster parent who opened her home and heart to children in need, his mother instilled in him the values that continue to guide him today. Reflecting on her influence, Howard says simply, "My mom taught me so much, how to treat people, how to not be treated." It is a lesson that has remained with him through decades of service, loss, and resilience, shaping the way he approaches life.
Today, Howard is surrounded by former military veterans at Kipnes. "Orly Whelan, real good guy. He sits at the table all the time," he says. "Orly and there's Norm. There's Gibb. And here is Rick." He gestures at an empty seat. "He was a police officer... We have a good time, talk a lot. This table, we laugh all the time. Mike comes and we talk. Every Tuesday, we laugh. That's what we do. Laugh the whole time." Howard speaks warmly of the support system at Kipnes, a place where veterans understand one another.
Howard's medals.
A lifelong athlete, Howard played hockey and baseball, even competing nationally. "If you were in my room, [you'd see trophies for] playing ball and hockey, going off to the nationals every year. Summertime ball, wintertime hockey. I played 105 hockey games in one year.
Howard during Kipnes 2026 Remembrance Day celebration.
For Howard Remembrance Day is personal. It's Chuck, who inspired him to join the military, the ones who shared the heat of Bosnia, the chaos of the Winnipeg floods, and the quiet moments in between. And it's the men at his table today, Orly, Norm, Gibb, Rick and Mike, who share his laughter and his history.
"I like the fact Remembrance Day is here," he says. And this year surrounded by his community at Kipnes, he didn't just remember, he, alongside his fellow residents and veterans, was remembered, honored, and celebrated.