Every year, from the last Friday of October to November 11, members and friends of the Simcoe Legion join together in support of the nation-wide Poppy Campaign. As the official symbol of Remembrance, the Poppy is distributed during the Campaign to all who wish to wear one, and the Legion gratefully accepts donations to the Poppy Fund. All donations go to support Veterans, their families, and various important community initiatives.

The idea for the Remembrance Poppy was imagined by Madame Anna Guérin of France. She was inspired by Canadian soldier and surgeon John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Fields.” Anna had originally founded a charity to help rebuild regions of France after the First World War, and created poppies made of fabric to raise funds. Later, Anna presented her concept to France’s allies, including the precursor to The Royal Canadian Legion, The Great War Veterans Association. The idea was considered at a meeting in Port Arthur, Ontario (now Thunder Bay) and was adopted on July 6, 1921 and began being distributed in Simcoe the following year.

Participating in the Poppy Campaign is part of the Legion’s oath but you don’t need to be a member to help. If you would like to volunteer with the Poppy Campaign, please feel free to contact the Branch where our Poppy Chair will be happy to assist.