New Soldier Mural Featured at This Year's Remembrance Day Service in Schreiber, ON

Every year for the past 4 years, the Schreiber Media Centre has live streamed the Remembrance Day service in Schreiber, at the request of the local branch of the Canadian Legion. It did again this year 2023, allowing those stuck at home to see the event.

The service was well attended with residents lining the sidewalk near the cenotaph in order to observe the ceremony. There was an additional level of excitement this year as this was the first time the new soldiers mural would provide the backdrop for the event.

The idea of the mural  originated from a poster that Kim Krause from the Schreiber Media Centre had created to promote the 2020 service. The poster featured the silhouettes of fallen soldiers placed on the back wall of Filanes Dollar and More store. In 2022 Darlene Sitko had the idea that an actual mural on the wall would make a statement and enhance the cenotaph area for all to see.

In the late summer of 2023, a crew of volunteers was assembled and work began on the mural. It was completed in just one week with donations pouring in to pay for the supplies. The municipality had been approached but would not commit resources at the time. As the wall was privately owned, store owner Cosmo Filane gave his permission for the painting to go ahead.

Residents were moved by the sombre piece as the backdrop the service. The mural stands as a symbol to those who fought for our freedoms during the war. The simple broadcast helped to prove the value in having a community channel in a small rural town.

While the outcome of Schreiber Media Centre's work was fine, the whole production was plagued by mishaps, for those of you interested. 

Of course every event has its challenges and this year would be no different. For example, last minute changes had to be made when the studio in the basement in the library had to be closed down for maintenance: There was also a problem in finding people to help out that week.

For the livestream itself, it was a trial and error operation as journalists Kim Krause and David Costa set up outside in minus 10C degree weather and streamed from the backseat of a Honda on the corner of Scotia and Winnipeg street. As internet speeds are never a certainty, the footage from the cameras was re-conformed to create a proper broadcast video for the Youtube channel and for archival purposes. 

The event would have to be streamed directly to Facebook with only an iPhone available for recording. Normally there are three cameras rolling at all times and editing is done the next day. Everything was in place and three minutes before the event the Facebook stream was initiated. Literally seconds before a gust of wind blew over the iPhone and a new stream was started just seconds before the anthem was played. The next 30 minutes saw the ceremony going out live to Facebook with the iPhone being manually held in place. That footage would later be repurposed to create an archive of the event.

Technical issues aside, the event was well received and provided a valuable opportunity for everyone to partake in the service.