Army salutes Burd Sisler at Fort Erie’s first Remembrance Day without him

Andrew Hawlitzky
November 13, 2026 at 4:26 AM

The Canadian Army presented Burdett Sisler’s family with a memorial display of his Second World War badges and medals at Fort Erie’s first Remembrance Day ceremony since his death at 110.

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 71 held its Remembrance Day ceremony November 11 at its hall at 130 Garrison Road, where veterans, active service members, cadets and elected officials laid wreaths for the town’s war dead.

Sisler, formerly Canada’s oldest living person, attended last year’s ceremony at the same hall but died in April, weeks shy of his 111th birthday.

Lieutenant Colonel Lisa Smid, left, stands with Burd Sisler’s family: (L-R) Margaret Sisler, Elizabeth Argentino, Lorraine Mars, Sharon Gill and Norm Sisler, at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 71 in Fort Erie on Wednesday. Credit: Brenda Tyrrell | Fort Erie Radio

“The legacy of our beloved Sergeant Sisler lives on through all of you and through all of us in uniform that he helped train, and that legacy carries on generation after generation,” said Royal Canadian Corps of Signals Lieutenant Colonel Lisa Smid.

The Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, the army branch Sisler served in during the Second World War, built the badge and medal display with help from his son, Norm, so the family can take turns keeping it in their homes.

“Every time I met him, he had a family member with him, helping him get around, helping him come to these very special ceremonies where we could thank him for his service,” said Smid.

Also in attendance for the ceremony was Niagara South MP Fred Davies. Davies asked those gathered at Branch 71 to sign a House of Commons petition he is sponsoring to add the Ridgeway Nine–the militiamen killed at the 1866 Battle of Ridgeway–to Canada’s Books of Remembrance on Parliament Hill.

The nine men died June 2, 1866, after Fenian raiders crossed the Niagara River, took Fort Erie and met Canadian volunteers at Ridgeway, 13 months before Confederation.

“It confounds me why we have not been able to find the recognition of the Ridgeway Nine,” said Davies.

Dozens more men died of their wounds or disease after the battle, and Davies’ petition seeks recognition for them too.

The petition closes to signatures December 5.

At the time of publication, the petition has gathered 596 signatures, which means Davies can present it in the House and the government must respond within 45 days.

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With files from Brenda Tyrrell.

Tags:Battle of Ridgeway Heritage Park, Fred Davies, Niagara River, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 71

About the Author

Andrew Hawlitzky

Andrew is a Niagara community journalist who has covered everything from local politics to annual festivals and breaking news. He works to make local news a platform where community voices lead the conversation. "If you don't like the news, go out and make some!"