The Royal Canadian Legion’s annual Poppy Campaign is conducted each year for about two-weeks prior to Remembrance Day on Nov.11 in order to raise funds for needy Canadian veterans, ex-service members and their dependants, as well as Commonwealth veterans
• Lapel poppy pins provided for public and personal display, are distributed for donations which are not mandatory; in some cases (school children), the poppies are distributed solely to perpetuate Remembrance without remuneration.
• The intention of the Poppy Campaign is to remind Canadians of the sacrifice of the 117,000 Canadians who died in the military, Merchant Navy and Ferry Command in two World Wars, the Korean War and other theatres globally.
• Donations received from the Poppy Campaign are put into trust accounts and used accordingly to assist needy veterans, ex-service members, their families and former members of Commonwealth and allied military services.
• First made in 1922, the poppy emblem production by disabled veterans was sponsored by the Department of Soldiers Civil Re-establishment in VAC sheltered workshops, presently (from 1996) the work is being done by a private company.
• About 18 million poppies, 70,000 wreaths, crosses and sprays are distributed annually.
• Activities supported by Poppy Trust Funds include: assisting needy veterans, ex-service members and their families; purchasing medical appliances; funding medical research and training, providing bursaries to the children and grandchildren of veterans and ex-service members; and funding accommodation, care facilities, meals-on-wheels, transport and related services for veterans, seniors and disabled persons.
