Poppies are now available at local stores all across the mid-Island until November 11. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

lest we forget

‘Those rights weren’t free:’ mid-Island poppy campaign launches ahead of Remembrance Day

Oct 30, 2024 | 11:04 AM

NANAIMO — Over 100 years ago, the first poppy was worn as a symbol of remembrance for soldiers lost, and local Legions are proud to carry on the tradition.

The annual poppy campaign put on by Royal Canadian Legion Branches across Canada starts every year on the last Friday of October until Nov. 11.

Poppy chair with Branch 256 in Nanaimo Lew Forth said the poppy campaign was started after the First World War as a way to never forget the horrors of conflict.

“Not glorifying war by any manner or means. What we’re saying is, ‘we don’t want to do this again so think about it.’ And of course, then we had the Second World War, and then we had the Korean War, and then we had Afghanistan, and then we had all these other places, so we seem to be forgetting.”

Forth said last year their branch managed to raise over $65,000 with all funds put back into their programs at their Legion on East Wellington Rd.

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Collection cans with poppies are available at a wide range of stores and businesses in Nanaimo, with stations at Country Club Centre, North Town Centre, and Canadian Tire also accepting donations by tapping your credit card.

Tap options with a suggested donation amount are available at select locations in Nanaimo. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Forth said while the poppies are free, donations go a long way in helping local veterans.

“All the funds raised from the poppy campaign go into a special account specifically set aside for helping veterans in need, dependents that are in need, partially those that are aged or disabled, and also, to a certain degree, to promote remembrance.”

Lest We Forget bracelets and poppy pins are also available, with a minimum suggested donation of $2.00.

Plastic ‘poppy keeper’ plugs are also available at select spots, to be put on the tip of the pin to keep your poppy in place and avoid being poked.

Forth said the biggest thing to remember while wearing a poppy is the cost of your freedom, and think of the high cost of war and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

“We want people to remember the sacrifices of our Canadian veterans to give us the peace that we have right now. We have all these different rights and everything and people just take them for granted and they don’t realize those rights weren’t free.”

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 on how to donate or volunteer 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. starting at 10:45 a.m., which is available on the City’s YouTube channel.

Similar ceremonies will happen at Cenotaphs in Lantzville, Parksville and Qualicum Beach.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow