Every November, Canada pauses to remember. November 11 is set aside across the country to honour service, courage, and sacrifice and to hold a two minutes’ silence at 11 a.m. as a shared act of respect.
For us, coffee has always been a daily ritual that invites gratitude and presence: a quiet pour, a warm mug, a chance to really see each other. In Remembrance week, that ritual points to something deeper how we show up for people in our families, workplaces, and communities.
What Remembrance Teaches: Gratitude that moves
Remembrance isn’t only about looking back; it’s about how we live now. The poppy, worn close to the heart, reminds us of lives given and the freedom we enjoy. Gratitude, then, is not just a feeling; it’s a practice that shapes how we treat one another.
At work, research shows that intentional gratitude strengthens relationships, morale, and trust. Key ingredients for teams that care for each other and their communities. In short, gratitude builds communities of care.
Service is a verb
Coffee has taught us thousands of small lessons about service: remembering someone’s usual order, making space in a busy day to listen, keeping quality high even when no one is watching. These are ordinary actions but they add up.
Remembrance week invites us to take one extra step: to translate gratitude into service. In Canada, many ceremonies include the Last Post, the two minutes of silence, and the Rouse, moments that call us from reflection to renewed responsibility.
One small act, this week
If you’re reading this, here’s a simple invitation:
What’s one thing you can do this week to serve someone?
Choose one act, specific, small, and done with care:
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At home: make the first cup and leave a note of thanks.
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At work: write a genuine thank-you to a colleague who quietly holds things together.
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In community: check in on a neighbour, donate a warm item, or share time with a local veterans’ group.
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At 11 a.m. on Nov 11: pause for two minutes of silence, wherever you are.
Holding the moment together
In the days leading up to Remembrance Day, communities across Canada gather to honour those who served. Whether you attend a local service, wear a poppy, or simply stand in silence, you’re part of a shared promise: to remember and to live gratefully.
Coffee slows us down just enough to notice each other. May this week be marked by remembering well, thanking often, and serving generously, not only on November 11, but in the ordinary days that follow.