Poppy Campaign

The Poppy Campaign is conducted under the authority of Article XI of the General By-Laws and all who assist must be aware of this fact. It is essential after the campaign to publicly acknowledge the support of other Veterans organizations or other groups (e.g. the local cadet unit) that have assisted in the Poppy Campaign.

The Poppy Campaign is the foundation of our Remembrance Program. We provide Canadians with the opportunity to Remember by providing them with a Poppy and to participate at Remembrance Day services. Our Remembrance activities however, go far beyond the two weeks leading up to November 11th each year. Canadians are generous when they see our Poppy volunteers on the street and the collection trays in the stores. As a result of this generosity, we are able to ensure that Veterans and their families are cared for and treated with the respect that they deserve. The willingness to participate in the Poppy Campaign is one of the obligations we undertake when we become Members of The Royal Canadian Legion. All of us must strive to never forget this solemn undertaking — it is part of the debt that we owe to those who have gone before. It is through the Poppy Campaign and the generosity of our fellow citizens that, in addition to providing assistance to Veterans and their families, we foster the Tradition of Remembrance amongst our youth, the leaders of tomorrow.

The commencement of the campaign is governed by two factors:

Ceremonial Opening

The ceremonial presentation of first Poppies to the Governor General and Lieutenant Governors will take place at ceremonial functions as arranged by Commands at the most appropriate time. It is to the advantage of the Legion to have ceremonial openings the Royal Canadian Legion as it is an opportunity to receive positive publicity.

Every effort is made to arrange these ceremonies as close to the official opening date as possible, but flexibility must be maintained. These ceremonial presentations are not to be considered as a start of the annual Poppy Campaign; the ceremonial presentation of the National First Poppy to the Governor General by the Dominion President will be coordinated by Dominion Command for an appropriate date prior to the actual campaign start date. When possible, the date for the ceremonial presentation of the National First Poppy will be advised by September 1st to all Provincial Commands; and a presentation of Provincial First Poppies by Provincial Commands to Lieutenant Governors and any other First Poppy presentations by Branches shall be actioned at a convenient date subsequent to the presentation of the National First Poppy to the Governor General.

Official Opening

General By-Laws, states that the distribution of Poppies to the general public commences no earlier than the last Friday in October and concludes on November 11th.

We, as Members of The Royal Canadian Legion, strive to keep the memory alive of the 120,000 Canadians who paid the supreme sacrifice in the service of Canada during war and on subsequent operations. This goal is achieved through our annual Poppy Campaign and the Remembrance Day services organized by this great organization throughout the country and by our fellow citizens who are working far from our shores.

Money donated during the Royal Canadian Legion’s annual Poppy-Remembrance Campaign is placed in Poppy Trust Funds. Some of the many ways this money is used to improve life for people in our community include:

• Providing assistance to needy ex-service members and their defendants
• Supporting medical training and research, and the provision of community medical appliances which will assist in the care of veterans
• Services through Canadian Military Family Resource Centres
• Funding the purchase, construction and maintenance of housing and care facilities for elderly and disabled persons
• Providing bursaries to children and grandchildren of veterans
• Supporting drop-in centers for seniors and funding meals-on-wheels services
• Sponsorship of Cadet and youth programs

Donations for the Poppy Campaign can be given any time of the year. Mail or drop off your donation in an envelope marked Poppy Fund to the Antigonish Legion.