The Royal Canadian Legion in Maple Ridge is gearing up for this year’s poppy campaign which launches Friday, Oct. 27.
Canada’s symbol of remembrance for fallen military and RCMP veterans, the poppy reflects the country’s ongoing thankfulness for their sacrifices.
Again this year, poppies and wreaths will be biodegradable, made from pressed cardboard.
Poppies are also available nationally made from other natural materials including cotton velvet, plaster, moss, and bamboo.
Poppy campaign chair Sherry Boudreau is hoping to have a slew of volunteers for the 12-day campaign to help her reach her goal of $90,000.
Boudreau admits her goal is lofty, given the way the economy is right now, but she believes the community can pull together to make it happen.
The poppy campaign is the biggest fundraiser for the Legion, explained Boudreau, and donations stay within the community they are collected in, supporting all of the local veterans and first responders.
And it is also nationwide, a reflection of every veteran who has ever served, added Boudreau.
“It is a very crucial part of what we do as a Legion,” she said of the campaign.
Last year’s campaign brought in more than $84,000 in donations.
Branch 88 made donations to the Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation, PAWS – an organization that provides support dogs to veterans and first responders, and the George Derby Centre for a bus, amongst others.
The first poppy of the 2023 national campaign was presented to Governor General Mary Simon on Friday, Oct. 20, presented by legion dominion president, Bruce Julian, who pinned the poppy during the ceremonial event at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.
“Each year, we are honoured by our Governor General’s gracious support in wearing the first poppy,” said Julian.
“Her acceptance reflects this symbol’s importance in Canada, as a means of visually recognizing and thanking our fallen veterans,” he continued.
Julian noted that the poppy campaign is instrumental to the legion’s work across the country.
“Funds raised allow us to support our veterans, their families, and communities. Our focus on remembrance during this time is also an important part of our mission to never forget Canada’s fallen,” he added.
The legion is presenting the next series of Poppy Stories – where people can scan a lapel poppy with their smartphone which will take them to a short story about an everyday Canadian who dedicated their life to serving the country.
This year the legion will be adding 50 new stories about veterans who took part in peacekeeping assignments to honour the 75th anniversary of the first United Nations peacekeeping mission.
So far Boudreau has filled 100 volunteer shifts with poppy taggers, but she needs a lot more filled. Each shift is two hours and she would like to see taggers at all the busy locations across Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows including Save On Foods, Rona, FreshCo, and Shoppers Drug Mart.
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Judy Ballard, president of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 88, thanked the volunteers ahead of time for their help with poppy tagging, especially firefighters with Maple Ridge Fire and Rescue, who have, in the past, filled in the gaps in the schedule.
Poppy trays will be left along the business routes, including the car dealerships, the banks, the liquor stores, Walmart, Superstore, Save On Foods, and London Drugs.
Anyone who would like to use tap will have to go to the Legion branch to make a donation, where they will also be able to find poppy centres to replace the pins and bracelets.
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The Legion office is open Tuesday to Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. and the lounge opens at noon from Tuesday to Sunday.
Cash and cheques will be accepted at any of the boxes in the community.
All the schools in the district will be getting poppies, stickers, and a money container, which they return at the end of the campaign to be added to the total.
Last year Boudreau wrote a poem for Remembrance Day, which was read by Ballard during the ceremony in Maple Ridge.
This year the writer is hoping to have two more poems finished – one for each community – on the importance of the day and the sacrifice made by veterans.
The legion was founded in 1925 and is Canada’s largest veteran support and community service organization. They are a non-profit organization with about 250,000 members across Canada, in addition to branches in the U.S. and Europe.
Around $20 million is raised during the national poppy campaign every year.
Poppies, along with other commemorative items like ball caps, mittens, and lawn ornaments, can be purchased online at poppystore.ca.
To sign up for a two hour tagging shift go to Branch 88, located at 12101 224 Street in Maple Ridge.
For more information about the local poppy campaign call 604-463-5101.
