Royal Canadian legion, Credits: Heli Khetani
The poppy distribution campaign is very much a local initiative, directed by local legion branches in cities, towns, communities the nation over.
“There’s not much that has changed over the years, basically we start the last Friday of October and run up until remembrance, each legion is responsible for an area in the city to put out the poppy box and maintain through that time,” says Michael Knott, Ex Veteran Navy Officer.
While poppies are distributed freely to all, the legion gratefully accepts donations to the poppy fund. Also, this year, the legion presented “Poppy Stories”, a drive that permits Canadians to scan a lapel poppy with their smartphone where one will be introduced to a fallen soldier with a memorable story.
While talking about the significance Knott added, “this goes back to World War 1 when the remembrance was first brought out and it’s still more relevant today than ever, if you don’t remember what happened before, you’re bound to repeat it to look at it and say what my father did in World War 2 helped us to build who we are today and hopefully people will learn and not get into another war situation hopefully.”
Knott went on talking about the demographics of poppy among the youth, “The ratio of youth has been going down since past few years, this the first year in Long time where I have been contacted by some high schools in setting up remembrance for them, so I’m looking up overseas finding out more about them also high schools are letting their students design poppy for the day which I think is great”, says Knott.
The Poppy Campaign has already started from Oct.29 and will continue until the Remembrance Day.
Canadians outside the country can pick up a poppy from the Canadian Embassy or Consulate. However, road construction on Wellington Street will require veterans to parade north from the Delta Armories along Waterloo Street, turning west onto Dufferin Street until reaching the Cenotaph.
Inside the Legion
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