The poppy is being celebrated for being part of the Remembrance Day tradition in Canada for 100 years.
A colouring contest, a poppy craft and a special commemorative poppy are among the ways community members can celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Remembrance poppy.
“In 1921, inspired by John McCrae's In Flanders Fields, Madame Anna Guérin, had an idea: to adopt the distribution of the poppy on Armistice Day as a way to raise money for veterans' needs and to remember those who had given their lives during the First World War,” said a notice on the city’s website. “In July of 1921 the Great War Veterans Association (which in 1925 would unify with other veteran groups to form the Canadian Legion) adopted the poppy as the flower of remembrance. Since then, this tradition of remembrance has been upheld.”
Terry Leith, president of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 2, said poppy sales are now underway in New Westminster. He said they can be found at various stores around town.
“We have an unlimited supply,” he said. “If we take a tray or a can to a location and the can gets filled up and they run out of poppies, they just phone us and we go out and replenish them.”
Because of COVID restrictions, Leith said it’s been challenging for the Legion to get volunteers out selling poppies like they did in the past.
“The poppy sales basically go out to the community,” he noted. “A certain portion is for veterans that have difficulties; if they come in and they have problems with their finances and things like that, they come in here and apply for financial assistance. A lot of it goes to Queen’s Park Hospital and Royal Columbian Hospital. We donate to the hospitals for different pieces of equipment; that’s where a good portion of it goes.”
A poppy tradition
The poppy campaign in Canada kicks off with the presentation of a poppy to Canada’s Governor General.
“Once that person has been presented with a poppy, it then falls down to the provinces, and the lieutenant-governor here would be presented with a poppy,” Leith explained. “Our instructions are, once that person has been presented with a poppy, then the branches will present a poppy to their municipal leaders.”
The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 2 presented New Westminster Mayor Jonathan Cote with a poppy in a COVID-friendly presentation in his office at city hall on Wednesday morning.
For 2021, the Legion has created a special commemorative poppy that looks like the original poppy, as its design has changed through the decades.
“It actually looks a little bit different than the ones that they get when they put money in the cans,” Leith said. “It’s commemorating the 100th anniversary of the poppy. It’s a special poppy that we have. We only have limited ones right now. I’ve got some on order. They are $10 a piece, those ones. I may have to order more depending on how many people ask for them.”
While the regular poppies are available at various locations in New West, people will have to drop by the New West Legion or call (604-522-4522) if they want to purchase the commemorative poppy.
Poppy activities
The Legion is encouraging kids 12 and under to take part in this year’s colouring contest, which features a poppy. Entries can also be picked up in the children’s section of the public library.
“We have already had some entries in,” Leith said. “When they come in they will be judged. Just before Remembrance Day they will be on the windows at the Legion.”
A free take-home poppy craft kit will be available at the New Westminster Public Library (uptown and Queensborough branches) from Nov. 6 to 10.
Lisa Kemp, the city’s program coordinator of special events, said the original poppy is quite different from the one worn today.
“I have one, and I have been getting so many questions about it already today,” she said of the commemorative poppy. “That is what the craft is – it is to create a poppy like it was 100 years ago.”
Kemp said the poppy craft kit is just one of the ways the City of New Westminster, the Royal Canadian Legion, The Royal Westminster Regiment and community groups are working together to create ways for people to commemorate Remembrance Day.
The Poppy Project is also going on tour as part of this year’s Remembrance Day events. Launched in 2016 in New West, the initiative saw knitters and crocheters create more than 1,000 poppies, which were then attached to a blanket.
Community members can view the Poppy Project installation at Queensborough Community Centre from Oct. 27 to Nov. 2, Centennial Community Centre from Nov. 2 to 8 and New Westminster City Hall from Nov. 8 to 12.
Details about all of the Remembrance Day activities taking place in New Westminster can be found at www.newwestcity.ca (search for Remembrance Day 2021.)
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