Poppies are available at numerous businesses throughout Nanaimo, including Canadian Tire, City Hall, and the Nanaimo Services and Resource Centre. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

lest we forget

‘Gave the ultimate sacrifice:’ poppy campaign in full-swing ahead of Remembrance Day

Nov 3, 2023 | 10:18 AM

NANAIMO — The poppies are out ahead of Remembrance Day.

Collection boxes and stalls are popping up into the community with Royal Canadian Legions spearheading the campaigns which traditionally start on the last Friday of October every year.

Poppy chair with Branch 256 in Nanaimo Lew Forth said they already have at least 850 collection cans distributed to businesses throughout the Harbour City.

“The couple of tables that I know of, because we count them every day as they come in, and their numbers have been up and down…but pretty close to last year and the year before, so I think it’s going to be a pretty good year.”

Tables staffed with volunteers are at Canadian Tire and London Drugs at the Nanaimo North Town Centre and at Country Club Centre for six hours every day until Nov. 10.

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Volunteers are always needed for three-hour shifts at the tables, with a group of dedicated people always signing up for multiple shifts every year, according to Forth.

He said the poppy is an important symbol for honouring our veterans ever since it was first unveiled in 1921.

“The poppy was first introduced as an official emblem for the legion to recognize the sacrifices that our fallen have put forward for our freedoms that we enjoy today. And I think it’s very important that we do actually remember those people that actually gave the ultimate sacrifice in order to keep our freedoms.”

Volunteers Don Ballingall (L), a veteran, and Donna, whose late husband was a veteran, were manning the poppy booth at Canadian Tire in Nanaimo on Nov. 2. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Donna was volunteering at the poppy booth inside Canadian Tire in Nanaimo on Thursday afternoon.

Her late husband was a veteran, and her father was a drill sergeant who trained troops on Vancouver Island for the Second World War.

“These poppies will support our veterans that need support,” she told NanaimoNewsNOW. “They need housing, they need service dogs, they need mental services, and these poppies support all of that, along with many, many other things.”

Around $55,000 was raised during the 2022 poppy campaign by Branch 256 on East Wellington Rd.

A donation is all that’s needed to pick up a poppy and will be cash-only at all of their Nanaimo locations this year.

Similar campaigns are taking place through Legion’s in Lantzville, Parksville and Qualicum Beach.

Donations can still be by card, cheque, or cash in person at any Legion location, or by giving them a call.

More information can be found at poppystore.ca, or at the Royal Canadian Legion’s website.

Remembrance Day ceremonies will be held across Canada on Nov. 11, with a moment of silence held at 11 a.m. followed by the playing of The Last Post.

Nanaimo’s ceremony will once again be downtown in front of the cenotaph in Dallas Square Park off Front St.

Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler, our letters to the editor feature.

jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow