Your Saturday Roundup: November 8-16, 2025
Good morning!
As November settles in with shorter days and cooler temperatures, this week brings us to that most important date on our calendar—Remembrance Day on Tuesday, November 11. It’s a time to pause, reflect, and honour those who served. Whether you’ll be attending a ceremony or observing two minutes of silence at home, we remember together.
Beyond Tuesday’s solemn observance, there’s plenty happening across the country this week, from cozy community gatherings to the start of holiday markets. And yes, your government payments are arriving right on schedule—more on that below!
📰 Senior News Spotlight
Your CPP/OAS Payment Reminder
If you’re waiting for your November CPP and OAS payments, mark Wednesday, November 26 on your calendar. That’s when this month’s payments will be deposited—arriving well before the holiday season begins.
For those receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), your payment will arrive on November 27. Many low-income seniors will see an average of about $785 per month, with maximum payments up to $1,043 for single recipients.
The three payments arriving in late November mean many seniors will see a noticeable boost to their bank accounts before December—helpful timing as holiday expenses approach!
Important Changes to Senior Benefits
There’s been significant news about Canada’s pension system. New OAS and CPP age rule updates now allow seniors to start receiving partial payments at 65 instead of waiting until 67, giving retirees more flexibility in when and how they receive their benefits.
In 2025, CPP payments have increased by 2.6% and OAS payments by 2%, helping seniors keep pace with rising living costs. For GIS recipients, the income threshold for full benefits has been raised to $20,904 for single seniors and $27,504 for couples—meaning more low-income seniors may now qualify for support.
Remembrance Day 2025
Tuesday, November 11 is Remembrance Day across Canada. Special church services will be organized that include the playing of “The Last Post,” a reading of the fourth verse of the ‘Ode of Remembrance,’ and two minutes of silence at 11:00 a.m.
The official Canadian national ceremonies are held at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Ontario, according to strict protocol, where wreaths are laid by armed services representatives.
Remembrance Day is a statutory holiday in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and all three territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut). In Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec, it’s observed but not a statutory holiday, though many businesses close and ceremonies are held. Nova Scotia has special legislation that prohibits most retail stores from operating on November 11.
🚨 Scam Alert
Stay Vigilant This Week
As of March 2025, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has processed 12,815 reports of fraud with losses totaling more than $165 million. Scammers continue to target seniors, especially around government payment dates.
The Grandparent Scam Is Getting Worse
Twenty-five Canadians have been charged with swindling hundreds of American seniors out of more than $21 million through grandparent scams. Authorities warn that such scams are getting increasingly sophisticated, including the use of AI to clone voices of family members.
The scam works like this: You receive a call from someone claiming to be your grandchild (or a lawyer/police officer representing them), saying they’re in urgent trouble and need money immediately. They often ask you to “keep the information from mom and dad,” swearing you to secrecy.
What To Do:
- If you receive such a call, hang up immediately
- Call your family member directly using a number you know is correct
- Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501
- Never send money via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to anyone claiming to be in distress
Romance scams were the number two most reported scam in Canada in 2022, with scammers particularly targeting recently divorced or widowed seniors. If you’ve met someone online who’s asking for money—even after months of communication—that’s a major red flag.
Remember: Real emergencies don’t require you to keep secrets or act immediately without verification.
📅 Upcoming Events Across Canada (November 8-16)
🍁 REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONIES – TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION (ONTARIO)
- Ottawa – National War Memorial: Official national ceremony with strict protocol. Sunlight enters through a single window in the Canadian War Museum’s Memorial Hall, illuminating the headstone of Canada’s Unknown Soldier
- Ottawa – Queen’s Park Ceremony: 10:45 a.m. at the Ontario Legislative Building, 111 Wellesley Street West (also livestreamed on YouTube)
ONTARIO
- Toronto – Old City Hall Cenotaph: 10:45 a.m. at 60 Queen St. W. Includes traditional ways of honouring warriors from First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and non-status Indigenous veterans
- Fort York National Historic Site: 10:45 a.m. at 100 Garrison Rd.
- Etobicoke Civic Centre: 10:45 a.m. at 399 The West Mall
- East York Civic Centre: 10:45 a.m. at 850 Coxwell Avenue
- Scarborough War Memorial: 10:45 a.m. at 2190 Kingston Road
- York Civic Centre: 10:45 a.m. at 2700 Eglinton Ave. W.
- Burlington – Sunrise Naval Service: 9:00 a.m. at Royal Canadian Naval Ships Memorial, Spencer Smith Park
- Burlington Parade: 10:30 a.m. departing Central School on Baldwin Street
- Brampton – Sunrise Service: 7:55 a.m. at Meadowvale Cemetery Main Chapel, 7732 Mavis Road
- Brampton Parade: 10:30 a.m. at Ken Whillans Square, 2 Wellington St.
QUEBEC
- Ceremonies will be held at cenotaphs and community centers throughout the province. Contact your local Royal Canadian Legion branch for specific times and locations in Montreal, Quebec City, and regional communities.
NEW BRUNSWICK
- Saint John – TD Station: 99 Station Street. Public asked to be seated by 10:20 a.m., service begins 11:00 a.m. Additional ceremonies at West Field of Honour (9:00 a.m.) and Royal Canadian Legion Branch 69 (750 Manawagonish Road)
- Fredericton Cenotaph: 899 King Street, parade/march at 10:30 a.m., followed by ceremony
- Moncton Coliseum: 377 Killam Dr., 10:30-11:30 a.m.
- Dieppe – École Mathieu-Martin: 511 Champlain Street
- Shediac – Parc Pascal-Poirier: 10:00 a.m. at Cenotaph Site
- Additional ceremonies in Sussex, Woodstock, Hampton, and communities throughout the province
NOVA SCOTIA
- Halifax – National ceremonies and local services at cenotaphs throughout HRM in communities province wide.
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND & NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
- Ceremonies at cenotaphs and Royal Canadian Legion branches throughout both provinces. Contact your local Legion for specific times and locations.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
- Vancouver – Victory Square: 10:30-11:30 a.m. at 200 West Hastings St. (Vancouver’s oldest continuing annual ceremony, beginning in 1924)
- UBC War Memorial Gym: Doors open 10:00 a.m., ceremony begins 10:45 a.m. at 6081 University Blvd. (75th anniversary of UBC’s Remembrance Day ceremony)
- Port Coquitlam: 10:10 a.m. parade along Shaughnessy Street, 11 a.m. wreath-laying at Veterans Park
- Pitt Meadows: 10:45 a.m. at šxʷhék̓ʷnəs (Spirit Square), 12007 Harris Rd.
- Delta – North Delta Social Heart Plaza: 10:40 a.m. at 11415 84th Ave.
- Ladner: 10:40 a.m. starting at Royal Canadian Legion, 4896 Delta St.
ALBERTA, SASKATCHEWAN, MANITOBA
- Ceremonies will be held at cenotaphs, community centers, and Royal Canadian Legion branches in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Brandon, and communities throughout the Prairie provinces. Contact your local Legion for specific times and locations.
TERRITORIES (YUKON, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, NUNAVUT)
- Ceremonies in Whitehorse, Yellowknife, Iqaluit, and territorial communities. Contact local Royal Canadian Legion branches or territorial government offices for ceremony details.
🎭 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
ALBERTA
- Calgary – Prince Symphonic Tribute: November 16 at Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. Experience the legendary artistry of Prince with a symphonic twist
- Calgary – Savio Joseph Magic Show: November 8 at Beddington Theatre Arts Centre. Mind-bending magic, mentalism, and hypnosis
- ZooLights at Calgary Zoo: November 14-January 4, 2026. Over 2 million lights and 200 displays
- Inglewood Holiday Night Market: November 14-15 and 21-22 at Crossroads Farmers Market
- Spruce Meadows International Christmas Market: November 14-16 and 22-23
BRITISH COLUMBIA
- Vancouver Croissant Crawl: November 1-16. Self-guided tour of creative croissant creations across Metro Vancouver
- Dan’s Legacy Chefs Charity Dinner: November 8
- HollyDaze in the Heights: November 15
ONTARIO
- Royal Agricultural Winter Fair: November 7-16 at Exhibition Place, Toronto. Celebrating agriculture, local food, and equestrian competitions. Senior tickets $20
- Ottawa – Natural Wine Festival: November 7
- Ottawa – Outstanding in Their Fields Wine Experience: November 6. Top Ontario winemakers with 100+ curated wines
- Toronto Maple Leafs Home Games: November 8 vs. Boston Bruins, November 9 vs. Carolina Hurricanes, November 13 vs. Los Angeles Kings at Scotiabank Arena
- Bubble Planet Exhibition: Ongoing at YZD, Downsview Airport Lands, 30 Hanover Road. Senior tickets $31.90
- Sabrina Carpenter – Short N’ Sweet Tour: November 10-11, 7 p.m. at Scotiabank Arena
- Stevie Nicks (Rescheduled): November 15, 7 p.m. at Scotiabank Arena
QUEBEC
- Montreal – CINEMANIA Film Festival: November 4-16. French-language films with English subtitles at multiple venues
- Montreal – Bach Festival: November 15-December 7. Over 30 concerts featuring hundreds of musicians, singers and conductors
- Montreal – Paul McCartney GOT BACK Tour: November 16-17 at Bell Centre
- Montreal – Mundial Montréal: November 18-21. World music festival showcasing new global music
- Montreal – M for Montreal: November 19-22. Indie music festival at multiple venues
- MTLàTABLE (Restaurant Week): October 30-November 16. Discover dishes from participating restaurants throughout the city
NOVA SCOTIA
- Halifax – Hal-Con Sci-Fi & Fantasy Convention: November 7-9 at Halifax Convention Centre. Discussion panels, costume contests, workshops
- Halifax – DELIGHTFUL DOWNTOWN: Light projection shows through January 12, 2026
- Halifax – Evergreen Festival: 4-week celebration of Nova Scotian culture, food, spirits, craft, and art
- Halifax – Craig Ferguson: Pants on Fire: November 8, 8 p.m. at Casino Nova Scotia
- Halifax – Chilliwack: November 15, 8 p.m. at Casino Nova Scotia
- Halifax – 40 Days of Fine Craft: November 12-December 21 at Centre for Craft Nova Scotia
- Halifax – Canadian Curling Trials: November 22-30 at Scotiabank Centre. Top teams competing for 2026 Olympics spot
- Truro — Brent Butt is at the Mayflower center November 9th.
SASKATCHEWAN, MANITOBA, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR
We couldn’t find senior-specific events listed for these provinces this week. If you know of community events, craft fairs, or gatherings happening in Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Charlottetown, St. John’s, or other communities, please email us at admin@canadianseniormoment.caso we can share them with readers next week!
TERRITORIES
For events in Whitehorse, Yellowknife, Iqaluit, and other northern communities, check with your local visitor centers or community bulletin boards. The shorter days of November bring unique cultural celebrations worth exploring.
✈️ Travel Deals of the Week
VIA Rail Discount Tuesday
Save 10% on Economy fares for travel on board the Canadian, the Ocean and regional trains between November 11 and December 11, 2025. Use discount code TUESDAY when booking online.
Save 15% on Economy fares for travel within the Québec City–Windsor corridor on select dates and trains between November 11 and November 17, 2025. Tickets must be purchased on November 4, 2025 between 8:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. ET.
Senior Travelers Take Note: VIA Rail offers seniors aged 60 and over a 10% discount year-round on train tickets. Simply select “Senior (60+)” as your traveler type when booking. (Note: Some sources indicate the age has been raised to 65+, so verify when booking.)
Cruise Deals for Canadian Seniors
MSC Cruises Senior Club: Travelers over 65 years of age receive 5% off on Inside, Outside with Partial View, and Ocean View cabins, and 10% off on Balcony, Suite and MSC Yacht Club Suites.
Royal Caribbean Fall Savings: Up to 60% off for the second guest, with kids sailing free on select sailings. Cruises available from November through spring 2026.
Air Canada Vacations Flight & Cruise Packages: Save up to $400 per pair on select Flight & Cruise packages to Europe for departures between April 1 and September 30, 2026. Book by November 18, 2025, with $0 flight deposit and 100% refundable flights up to 24 hours prior to departure.
Celebrity Beyond Wellness Cruise: 7-night Flight & Cruise package departing April 5, 2026 from Miami to San Juan, Puerto Plata and Tortola for $3,699, includes Toronto or Montreal flights, AquaClass balcony stateroom, Classic Beverage Package, Basic WiFi, complimentary fitness pass, and access to SEA Thermal Suite.
Remember: January to March is “Wave Season” when cruise lines offer their deepest discounts. If you’re thinking about a 2026 cruise, now’s the time to start planning!
💬 Do You Know of a Local Event?
We know there are wonderful community events happening in every corner of Canada that might not make the big tourism websites. This week, we especially struggled to find senior-specific events in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, PEI, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
If you know of a senior-friendly event, craft fair, concert, or gathering happening in your community—anywhere from Iqaluit to Charlottetown, from Regina to Corner Brook—please share it with us! Email admin@canadianseniormoment.ca, and we’ll include it in next week’s roundup.
Your fellow readers would love to know what’s happening in their region.
Until Next Saturday…
As we approach Remembrance Day this Tuesday, take a moment at 11 a.m. to pause, wherever you are. Whether you’re attending a ceremony, watching from home, or simply stopping what you’re doing for two minutes of silence, we remember together.
More than 2.3 million Canadians have served our country during times of war, conflict, and peace. More than 118,000 gave their lives. On Tuesday, from coast to coast to coast, we honour them all.
For those with service in their family history—thank you. For those who will be at cenotaphs across the country—we’ll be thinking of you. And for all of us, may we never forget.
Stay safe, stay warm, and we’ll see you next Saturday with more news and events.
Warmly,
Bill & Marilyn Gould
Founders of Canadian Senior Moment
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