Edmontonians gathered at a number of sites Tuesday, to take part in Remembrance Day ceremonies.

It was standing room only at the largest Remembrance Day ceremony in Edmonton, held at the University of Alberta Butterdome – where members of the Canadian Forces, veterans and current members, along with police and organizations of all ages participated.

Bruce Olson, a veteran of the Second World War, was one of them.

“My job was to sink submarines in the north Atlantic,” Olson said.

Olson joined the war effort when he was 21-years-old, over the course of the war, thousands lost their lives.

“I dread to think of what would have happened had we not won that battle.”

Since that war, many more members of the Canadian Forces have died in battle, including Cole Bartsch – who was a member of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.

His mother, Juanita, is the Silver Cross mother, as Cole died in July 2007, when the armoured vehicle he was riding in hit a roadside bomb near Kandahar City, Afghanistan.

“Nobody wants to be the Silver Cross mother, but it is an honour,” Bartsch said.

“You realize these young kids are sacrificing their lives for is which is…an amazing thing that they are doing.”

Veterans, members of the military and civilians alike attended ceremonies at a number of other locations in Edmonton Tuesday, including the 21-gun salute at the Legislature grounds, and ceremonies at the Ainsworth Dyer Memorial Bridge in Rundle Park, at West Edmonton Mall, at Beverly Cenotaph, the oldest in Alberta, and at the cenotaph at City Hall.

In wake of recent events, security increased at Remembrance Day ceremonies

At ceremonies such as the one held at City Hall, the police presence was subtly increased in light of recent attacks on Canadian soil.

The deaths of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, killed in a hit and run attack in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que. on October 20, and Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, who was shot and killed while standing guard at Ottawa’s National War memorial in Ottawa on October 22 seemed to give Remembrance Day a new meaning.

“We were reminded that those who we remember on this solemn day are not limited to those who perish in conflict,” Capt. Rick Dumas with the PPCLI said.

“We reflect on the loss of Patrice Vincent and Nathan Cirillo, in the senseless violence that’s found its way to our communities,” Mayor Don Iveson said.

Edmonton Police Service members in uniform, and plainclothes, were on hand at City Hall to ensure the safety of attendees throughout Tuesday’s events, a precaution against the potential threat to members of the Canadian Military.

Despite the threat, RCMP and EPS told CTV News no incidents were reported.

With files from Susan Amerongen and Bill Fortier