Vancouver club’s ‘Remembrance Party’ raises questions

There are many Remembrance Day events scheduled across the country, but one in Vancouver is not something the Royal Canadian Legion is supportive of.

Event postings have been circulating online for what was dubbed as a “Remembrance Party” at Club 816 Thursday night.

The business has marketed the event as a “Remembrance weekend handsup party” that is “raver friendly,” featuring a DJ.

“Grab your glow stick and your dancing shoes and come party till 6am to the best high energy dance music in town!” a Facebook post promoting the event reads.

The event promos have been met with mixed reaction online, with some using sarcasm to suggest partying is not a way to mark Remembrance Day, while others have shown support for the idea.

“What percentage is being donated to veterans??” one comment reads.

“Can’t believe you guys haven’t canceled this event with all the backlash and are still deleting comments,” another person says.

Valerie Macgregor, immediate past president at the BC/Yukon Command of the Royal Canadian Legion, is also not supportive.

“Remembrance Week, the entire week, is a very solemn occasion and it’s not a time that we ever really see as a celebration or something that we would be holding events that would fall into the party format. It’s a time that we hope all Canadians would just take a moment to reflect on our veterans and their service to our country,” she told CityNews.

“It really isn’t anything that the Royal Canadian Legion would support.”

Macgregor says Remembrance Day is meant to be an opportunity to show thanks and respect to those who have served Canada — not party in their memory or simply be a long weekend.

“That’s something that’s very disappointing to all of us that our members of the Royal Canadian Legion and in general. It’s something that most Canadians, I hope, would not do,” she explained.

“I do find that it is sad that some people view it that way and I think they’ve lost sight of the traditional meaning of Remembrance Day.”

‘Poorly worded title’: Club manager didn’t intend to offend, believes this was ‘blown out of proportion’

In an email to CityNews, Lace, who identifies themselves as the manager of the club, confirms they made the flyer, adding it “obviously confused everyone with the poorly worded title.”

In their statement, the manager, who says they are also a veteran, says they did not intend to insult or mislead anyone.

“I made the flyer for the night quickly in 5 minutes and I based myself on attaching the name of the night of the stat holiday name in a completely generic manner the same way one would say ‘good friday party’ on easter. And that was pretty much it,” the statement reads in part.

“I myself having spent two years in the French armed forces, I didn’t think the title was insulting or misleading as I do remember partying it up prior to large memorial events with other soldiers and officers. I still don’t think it’s a big deal since the club night is nov 10, not the 11.

“Some people have chosen to interpret the title of the flyer as some kind of direct association with veterans affairs, or myself trying to deviously profit from the plight of veterans and that is not the case.

“I think this whole thing got blown out of proportion by a few online kens and karens who are happy to complain about it right now because it makes them feel righteous and then will probably completely forget about veterans until next year. I suspect most of these complainers can’t even name one veteran’s organization.

“Additionally, If the biggest news item of the day is some guy who got his flyer wrong then we’re doomed.

“To my fellow vets I say sorry guys. I got it wrong, I’ll think of a better title next year,” the statement concludes.

Remembrance Day wording

The club’s event isn’t the only example in recent memory that has left veterans perplexed or upset, Macgregor says.

“I know for a fact that this isn’t what veterans would want,” she said of parties and celebrations for Remembrance Day.

“I was, as recently as last evening, in touch with a veteran who is very upset and was brought to tears by the fact that he passed a business that had a sign up that stated, ‘We will be closed on Remembrance Day, happy holiday.’ As a veteran, a young veteran who served in Afghanistan, he found that extremely hurtful,” Macgregor recalled.

The Royal Canadian Legion hopes events for Remembrance Day are respectful and honour the sacrifices veterans have made.

“I would encourage them to rethink the format and the way they’re marketing it,” Macgregor said of party organizers.

“If I was to share some guidance with them, I would ask them to please reconsider and if they would like to hold an event that honours veterans, that it would be more appropriate to market it in that way and to invite veterans to join them and to have some level of respectful reception or a gathering where veterans could come and they could be part of a discussion.”

Remembrance Day is on Nov. 11.

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