TFS - Canada's International School

At the Senior School Remembrance Day assembly on November 11, 2024, TFS alumnus Dr. Walter Dorn '79 shared what Remembrance Day means to him. "Remembrance is not only about remembering those who died in war," said Dr. Dorn, a professor of Defence Studies at the Royal Military College of Canada and the Canadian Forces College. "It's also pledging that we'll try and make sure their sacrifice was not in vain. That we have to work hard for peace." He invited students to think critically about the period between the two world wars, a time when Canada and many other countries retreated into isolationism. "We thought in the 1930s that we were so far from any conflicts, that two oceans separated us from those problems. But the beginning of World War II showed us that was not true," explained Dr. Dorn. "When people have their security threatened in one part of the world, that's a matter of our own security. We have to realize that human security is all linked together on a global basis. Being able to help people far away is being able to help ourselves. Remembering the sacrifice of the past is a part of that." REMEMBRANCE WITH MEANING Remembrance Day stands as the event that most fully embodies the duty to remember at TFS. "It is meant to remind us of our duty as citizens," says then-Level V student Declan C. "It reminds us that the freedom, peace and security we enjoy comes at the cost of immense sacrifice and that war cannot be taken lightly. Every responsible citizen should have a sense of these notions." Whether they're focusing on the Second World War or the many conflicts that have shaped the twentieth century and the first decades of the twenty-first, the annual assemblies held at each branch are both solemn and thematic ceremonies that contribute to make our young minds aware that war is not an abstract concept confined to history books. And TFS' diverse community enables the school to draw meaningful connections between current and historical events during Remembrance Day presentations, making the commemoration more impactful. "We have a reasonable number of families within our community that have personal memories of war," notes Deputy Head of School and Senior School Principal Jean-Bastien Urfels. "While many European schools maintain a strong connection to the history of the Second World War, TFS is unique in that its community is a melting pot of family histories that extend beyond it." In 2025, the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Holocaust camps gave particular resonance to the reflection. Survivor Elly Gotz shared his story (page 30), offering a powerful perspective that deepened the meaning of the commemoration. Students whose families were directly affected shared their histories with the audience, bringing presentations and personal archives to the stage—making the commemoration more relatable for all. The 2025- 2026 academic year's program includes a focus on the Pacific conflict during the Second World War, offering space to engage with the experiences of families in our community connected to that history. Remembrance has long been part of the student journey at TFS—one where they are encouraged to be engaged citizens, curious about the past, thoughtful about the present and commied to shaping a more peaceful future. What began as a tradition within our communi has grown into a defining aspect of who we are, so much so that TFS is now being recognized for its leadership in remembrance education. BEING ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE FAR AWAY IS BEING ABLE TO HELP OURSELVES. REMEMBERING THE SACRIFICE OF THE PAST IS A PART OF THAT. Grade 5 TFS students participated in the ceremony of rekindling La Flamme du Soldat Inconnu (the Flame of the Unknown Soldier) at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. 27 TFS

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