Bells of Peace; Sault church to ring bells 100 times at sundown Sunday

Sault Ste. Marie’s Precious Blood Cathedral plans to ring its church bell 100 times at sundown Sunday.

‘Bells of Peace’ is a Royal Canadian Legion initiative, intended to be a special, added component to this year’s Remembrance Day ceremonies, to mark the 100th anniversary of the Nov. 11, 1918 armistice which ended the First World War.

The Legion’s national office is requesting communities across Canada mark the anniversary by ringing bells 100 times at churches, city halls, military bases, on naval vessels and at Remembrance Day ceremonies across the country, emulating the moment in 1918 when church bells across Europe tolled as World War I ended.

‘When you hear the bells toll on November 11, take a moment to pause and remember all those who served and sacrificed,’ the Royal Canadian Legion’s website reads.

Ernie Bremner, the Sault’s Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 1st vice president, told SooToday the local Legion branch has contacted all churches in the Sault to ring their bells 100 times beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Apart from Precious Blood Cathedral, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 officials told SooToday, it is believed (though unconfirmed as of Saturday) the Sault’s St. Jerome Roman Catholic Church would also ring its bells.

St. Luke's Anglican Cathedral, Branch 25 officials said, wished to participate but church officials discovered there are structural issues preventing its bells from being used.