The cenotaph outside Toronto's Old City Hall is now hidden behind a multitude of wreaths, marking Remembrance Day and the city's continuing debt to its fallen soldiers.

At the appointed hour, the bells in the city's famous clock tower at Old City Hall chimed 11 times, signalling the start of two minutes of silence.

At 11 a.m., most business in the city came to a halt. The TTC stopped its subway trains, buses and streetcars. In every corner of the city, people stood in silence under sunny skies.

A fly-by performed by historical aircraft of the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association and members of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum punctuated the service with its "missing man" formation.

Some people in the crowd brushed away tears, other dropped their heads in quiet prayer, as a piper from the 48th Highlanders played a lament.

Wreaths, laid by city and provincial officials, veterans groups, families and schools, were vivid reminders of the sacrifice made by soldiers from Toronto in two world wars, Korea, in peacekeeping roles around the world and most recently in Afghanistan.

The province's lieutenant-governor asked Torontonians to remember the men and women who gave their lives for their country and to the pray for the safety of those now in conflict zones.

"Let us pray for their safe return, and for the families of all Canadian military men and women deployed around the world today. And let us give thanks for our veterans who have served this country well in times of war and peace," David Onley said.

"To them and to you, we make this solemn promise, we shall never forget."

Veterans attend

Hundreds of veterans were in the crowd, many seated, wrapped in blankets against the late morning chill.

Looking out on the crowd, which he said represented the multicultural face of Toronto, Mayor David Miller said the current war in Afghanistan may have divided people in some ways, but "Torontonians and Canadians support the men and women who are fighting it because they know these brave soldiers are loved by their families and friends, and we all want to see them return home unharmed.

"Many Torontonians come from war-torn nations and their families have been affected by conflicts Canada is involved in," added Miller. "Others are here from nations where the conflicts are less known to Canadians, although no less deadly. The first-hand experience of war helps to make Remembrance Day more relevant to all of us — from schoolchildren, to currently enlisted troops and well beyond."

Wednesday's ceremony marked the 91st time that soldiers, veterans, politicians and the public gathered to remember the men and women from Toronto who gave their lives for their country.

This year's crowd was one of the largest in recent years. Some believe the conflict in Afghanistan and the deaths of Canadian soldiers have made Remembrance Day much more important to many people.