2021 Poppy Campaign

Thank you to the many volunteers who distributed store boxes, especially the new volunteers, who spread out the workload. 

We covered all of the previous stores, and added some new ones, putting the number of poppy boxes over 200. 

Thank you also to the volunteers who braved the cold to distribute poppies in person on our streets. We had more than 10 people cover areas of the downtown, which is more than in recent years.

Thank you to Comrades Chris Toye and Stan Harrington for all the work that they put into the Poppy campaign. 

Our preliminary total reached $20,343.20 an increase over last year. 

Everyone has been very generous. 

Thank you to Comrade President Victor Packard, Comrade Padre Sheldon Kofsky, and Comrades Richard & Linda Carson, Allan Magnacca and Doug Johnson, as well as our hardworking branch secretary Elizabeth for helping with the remembrance services. 

Thank you to YourTV for broadcasting the service on cable tv, and our Town for live streaming the service, and providing the sound system on Queen St. 

To keep the crowd size down, it was suggested by Dominion Command that we follow the example of the National service. That meant keeping the official ceremony shorter, and placing most wreaths beforehand. It was different from past years, and if it caused confusion, I apologize. We did what we could to get the word out. 

We Will Remember Them

Al Howse, Poppy Chair. 

At this time of the year, our branch of the Royal Canadian Legion salutes the great sacrifice and service of local military veterans.  

Due to ongoing covid-19 restrictions, here are this year’s limited planned events:

Decoration Day
Veterans graves were marked with a Canadian Flag by volunteers as usual starting September 1st, but unfortunately, there was no parade or ceremony at the Lakeshore cemetery again this year.

Legion Week
Legion Week was quietly welcomed with a Poppy reporting article in the paper, and the start of acceptance of wreath ordering, but no public open house event was held at this time.

2020 Poppy Reporting
The 2020 Poppy numbers were reported in the papers relating to the Legion Week and Decoration Day article, as well as shared in the September Newsletters, as follows:
Over the past year, the local poppy fund raised $20,877.60. 
Of that, $2,223.19 was spent on Youth Ed 
$4,000 more went to the local Air Cadet Squadron,
which supports the branch throughout the year, $11,824,
was donated to Veteran Supports,  and $5,679.26 was spent on Remembrance.

Veterans Dinner
The annual Veteran’s dinner event is cancelled for this year, an alternative is being considered/discussed.

Poppy Campaign
The annual poppy campaign will start Friday Oct 29th and run until Thursday Nov. 11th, with boxes of poppies available at participating businesses, and canvassers on the streets.

Street Canvassers
The Poppy Campaign is an important event in the Legion calendar year. Volunteers raise valuable donations for our community as well as assisting Veterans and their families. Many of our Veterans who ensured the freedoms that we enjoy today are growing older and some are becoming dependent on our support. We are depending on your support during the two week Poppy Campaign (running from the Last Friday in October to November 11th).

There are many ways you can help during the Poppy Campaign, Volunteers are currently needed to assist the Poppy Committee in Street Canvassing. You can commit as much or as little time as you have available. We are very appreciative of any and all assistance.

Please contact The Branch’s Poppy Committee at Legion124@gmail.com / 905-468-23536 for information about what you can do to help and add your name to the volunteer schedule.

Remember you pledge… Let's make it a success...volunteer today

Honouring Veterans is #our Duty - Show you Support.

Note: Must be: double vaxxed

Seniors Services
Last year, as we were not allowed into the seniors homes, we were able to provide recorded Remembrance Service played on Remembrance Day they were well received.

Remembrance Services
The services at our cenotaphs on November 11th will be held this year, but in a scaled back/limited manner. Wreaths will be laid ahead of time starting at 10am, with the ceremony starting at 11am at the Queen st. Cenotaph. The cadets will provide vigil from first light, unfortunately there will be no parade. The Queenston Service will begin at 1pm, with the wreath laying to follow - to limit the crowd size & time gathered.
We ask all in attendance to maintain 6 feet distances, be masked and vaccinated to gather in public spaces. We also encourage people to watch the Cogeco/YourTV Broadcast from home.

As there was last year, there will be a spot at each cenotaph for all to leave your poppy on Nov 11 as a Personal Act of Remembrance. We encourage everyone to do so, at your convenience.

We will maintain as much planning flexibility as possible, and as circumstances change, so will our plans. We ask for your patience and understanding as we navigate the restrictions again this year.

Representatives from the community will gather at the cenotaph.