Newcomers to Canada say Remembrance Day holds special significance.

Nancy Wiebe explains her first Remembrance Day was celebrated at ten years old after arriving in Canada from Mexico.

"I was new to this, so when I saw how people had sacrificed their lives for us in Canada, as an immigrant, it really did something to me," she explains.

She adds that her first Remembrance Day service will always stick with her.

"I was a shy little girl and never heard of such a thing ... it just made me really appreciative of what people did for us, sacrificing their lives to give us freedom here."

That same freedom is what attracts so many newcomers to Canada and the Pembina Valley area.

"People often say our communities make them feel safe," Regional Connection's Steve Reynolds explains. "Their kids can walk to school, simple things like that... they talk about that often, and Remembrance Day fits with that. It's a big reason the country and our communities are safe."

He notes Regional Connections includes Remembrance Day content in their citizenship classes, as well as in their regular literacy classes. He says many are moved by the classic poem, 'In Flanders Fields'.

Staff are also cognizant of the many backgrounds and experiences newcomers bring with them, especially those leaving conflict-affected countries, and approach the topic, "in the right way, at the right time."

"There are all kinds of background and perspectives on the military and history ... but it's a great opportunity to share with people about Remembrance Day and Canadian history."