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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - At about half past eight on Nov. 10, city councillors shuffled out of their evening meeting, descended city hall's steps, and were greeted by what's become a waning tradition in Canada.

Flight Cpl. Brendan Fleet hangs his head low in a silent Remembrance Day vigil. - Lauren McKeon/NNSL photo

Two young cadets stood still; air and army pegged at either end of the city's cenotaph, eyes downcast, hands folded on rifles, a soft red blush of cold blooming on their cheeks.

They were there "to remember the fallen," said air cadet Cpl. Brendan Fleet, who stood on the right side of the cenotaph early in the night.

And for all the lost sons, daughters, friends, fathers and mothers out there, added army cadet Cpl. Jacob MacLellan, who stood on the left.

More than 30 Yellowknife cadets aged 12 to 19 kept the silent vigil throughout the eve of Remembrance Day, taking 45-minute shifts in teams of two. The Yellowknife cadet corps is among the last in Canada to hold the 12-hour overnight vigil, which began this year at 7 p.m. and ended at 7 a.m.

Indeed, air force Capt. Dale Crouch knows of only two other corps that keep the long vigil - one in Whitehorse and one in southern Canada.

While the cadets stood at the cenotaph last year, they were unable to find enough adults to act as supervisors and did not stay the entire night.

However, this year "we didn't want to see it wane," said Crouch, and volunteers and cadets alike were recruited with new dedication.

"The vigil instils a sense of service into the cadets," he added. "It's to show respect."

Cadets can also take the time to think about what people are going through now and to reflect on the past, said 2nd Lt. Thomas McOuat, who kept the overnight vigil during his time as a cadet.

"They're out here for 45 minutes standing still."