Twelve Sentries, One National Moment of Remembrance
Twelve people. One silent duty.
On November 11, 2026, twelve members of the Canadian Armed Forces and the RCMP will stand vigil at the National War Memorial in Ottawa as part of the national Remembrance Day Ceremony. They are the 2026 Remembrance Day Sentries — chosen for their dedication, professionalism and performance in service to Canada.
The 12 Sentries
- Sentry Commander (Canadian Army): Officer Cadet Quinn MacDonald, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario
- Royal Canadian Navy Sentry: Sailor 1st Class Brayden Zunti, HMCS Vancouver, Esquimalt, British Columbia
- Royal Canadian Air Force Sentry: Master Corporal Bénédicte Moke, Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Control Operations, Cornwall, Ontario
- Canadian Special Operations Forces Command Sentry: Master Warrant Officer Sébastien Courville, Canadian Special Operations Regiment, Petawawa, Ontario
- RCMP Sentry: Staff Sergeant Chris Smigelsky, Applied Police Sciences, Depot Division, Regina, Saskatchewan
- Nursing Officer (Canadian Joint Forces Command): Captain Valérie Coulombe, 1 Canadian Field Hospital, Ottawa
- Canadian Ranger Sentry: Ranger Darrell Johnson, 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, Carcross, Yukon
- Eagle Staff Bearer (Indigenous Council): Corporal Angèle Leblanc, Royal Canadian Dragoons, Petawawa, Ontario
- Eagle Staff Bearer (Indigenous Council): Warrant Officer Sylvain Leblanc, 2nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, Petawawa, Ontario
- Bugler: Sailor 1st Class Renjie Zhao, HMCS Donnacona, Montréal, Quebec
- Piper: Master Corporal Alastair Sanderson, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's), Hamilton, Ontario
- Special Guest to the Chief of the Defence Staff and the CAF Chief Warrant Officer: Master Corporal Rhéa Kirkup, Cold Lake Transition Centre, Cold Lake, Alberta
A Historic First
This year's Sentry Commander makes history. Officer Cadet Quinn MacDonald will be the first Officer Cadet to hold the role, marking the Royal Military College of Canada's 150th anniversary.
What the Program Means
Established in 1988, the Sentry Program recognizes outstanding CAF Regular and Reserve Force members and the RCMP for their dedication, professionalism and performance in service to Canada. These twelve were selected from across the country — from Esquimalt to Carcross, from Cornwall to Cold Lake — representing the Navy, Army, Air Force, Special Operations, Rangers, Nursing Officers and the RCMP.
The Twikup Take
Twelve people, one quiet duty: standing watch while the country remembers. On November 11, the most powerful tribute may be the one delivered without a single word.
Image: AI-generated illustration.