A woman was injured by a falling piece of plywood during Ottawa's Remembrance Day ceremony near the National War Memorial as high winds raged through the capital.

The piece of plywood hit a light standard before falling into the crowd on Sparks Street around 10:45 a.m. Paramedics responded with a stretcher but the injured woman opted for a wheelchair, witnesses said.

A piece of plywood is moved to a fence along Sparks Street after falling from above and hitting a woman in the Remembrance Day crowd below. (courtesy of David Debenham)

Thousands were gathered at the cenotaph, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov.-Gen. David Johnston, for the annual ceremony.

Winds were gusting between 32 and 43 kilometres per hour when the plywood fell, according to Environment Canada. High winds, up to 50 km/h, are expected throughout the day. The gusts are expected to slow to between 20 and 40 km/h tonight.