HALIFAX – A week from Remembrance Day, The Royal Canadian Legion says poppy distribution is doing well this year, despite the fact that there doesn’t appear to be many of people wearing them in Halifax.
In recent years there’s been a real resurgence in attendance from coast to coast at Remembrance Day ceremonies. Much of that is due not only to last year’s fatal attacks on Canadian soldiers, but also to the sacrifices made in the 10-year-long Afghanistan War.
That sentiment is reflected in the poppies you see on people’s lapels.
Last year the Royal Canadian Legion raised $16.5-million through donations by distributing poppies. This year, the numbers of poppies sent out is up.
“We at our head office at Nova Scotia-Nunavut Command have sent approximately 730,000 lapel pin poppies to our branches to be distributed to the general public, compared to last year’s 695,000,” said Valerie Mitchell-Vienotte, executive director of Nova Scotia-Nunavut Command.
Terry Pond, a volunteer at Centennial Branch Legion in Dartmouth, says while volunteers are down, unmanned poppy distribution locations in Dartmouth have grown from 37 to 97 locations in the last two years.
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“We started off with our order at 25,000 poppies, thinking that’s a lot of poppies. I’ve had to put in a second order for another 25,000,” Pond said.
So why the renewed interest in Remembrance Day?
John Fennell, who purchased a poppy at the Superstore on Wednesday, says for him it’s about the conflicts present in the world today.
“The reason I think the poppy is so prevalent today is simply, we have so much conflict going on in the world and we really do appreciate our armed forces,” he said.
“I think the up-swelling of sympathy went to the two soldiers who were killed in Quebec and Upper Canada and it put a focus on soldiers and what soldiers mean,” Pond said.
Ron Harold has been a Legion volunteer for 30 years. He’s noticed a recent change in those who are donating for poppies.
“A lot of the younger people are buying them,” he said. “High school and college kids too.”
Jordan Zukowski is a Dalhousie student. She says most people her age wear poppies partly because of Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan.
“I think wearing a poppy is very important to remember the sacrifice our soldiers made in the past for us and they’re currently making right now,” Zukowski said. “We live in an amazing country.”
“I wear a poppy just to show some respect and remembrance of people who sacrificed for us,” said Mary MacDonald.
Gordon Martin is a former serviceman and likes the trend.
“I think all the young people are getting involved and I think it’s a really great idea,” he said.
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