As the Royal Canadian Legion’s national poppy campaign officially begins, thousands of poppies are available to Canadians at Legion branches and other locations around the country, including online, where donors will receive a digital poppy in remembrance of a veteran of their choosing.
Available at mypoppy.ca, the digital poppies look like silver coins with the distinctive red flower in the centre and the words “REMEMBRANCE DAY 2018” and “WE REMEMBER” around the rim.
“Every fall, the respect and gratitude Canadians feel for the men and women who have served our county is reflected in their generosity during the Poppy Campaign,” said Thomas Irvine, legion dominion president. “None of us must ever forget the price paid for the open and free society we enjoy today.”
The ceremonial start of the 2018 national poppy campaign took place on Oct. 22 with Julie Payette, Governor-General of Canada, accepting the first poppy from Irvine.
Funds donated across the country during the national poppy campaign support veterans and their families locally. In 2016, close to $17 million went back into Canada’s communities.