October 24 to November 11, red poppies will appear on jackets, shirts and coats across Canada.

 

The red insignia is a familiar sight in the weeks leading up to Remembrance Day on Nov. 11, but it means more than simply wearing a flower. Each poppy represents a commitment to remember the Canadians who served, those who made the ultimate sacrifice and the families who continue to live with the cost of military service.

 

The poppy became an emblem of remembrance following the First World War. Inspired by Canada’s Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae’s poem, “In Flanders Fields”, the Great War Veterans’ Association, a predecessor of the Royal Canadian Legion (RCL), adopted it in 1921. In 2026, the Legion’s annual poppy campaign started early on Oct. 24, inviting Canadians to honour those who served and support veterans and their families.

 

The RCL leads the annual campaign through its branches, volunteers and community partners. Poppies are offered to the public, on a donation basis, with monies collected going to the Poppy Fund. These contributions are held in trust and support veterans and their families, including those facing financial difficulties, medical needs, housing challenges, or the costs of adjusting to life after service.

 

According to the Royal Canadian Legion Brandon Branch 3, donations from its Poppy Trust Fund between November 2024 and November 2025 included $3,000 for the Shilo Military Family Resource Centre’s (MFRC) Hold Me Tight Couples Workshop and $7,000 for its Families of Veterans Away program. These contributions show how local residents’ generosity can help military families manage the challenges that come with service.

 

The campaign is not simply about collecting donations. It is about ensuring remembrance leads to meaningful support for those who have served and the families who stand beside them.

Since 1993, the Ladies Auxiliary has been the backbone of the Legion, assisting with volunteer days, lunches, celebrations of life, craft sales, raffles and annual poppy campaign. The money the Ladies Auxiliary raise from craft sales or the poppy campaign goes toward several community endeavours and stays within the community. These include scholarships, funds to assist local vets and families in need, and support for the Legion.

 

One significant program the Poppy Fund assists is the No Stone Left Alone Memorial Foundation. Each year, the Legion branch provides poppies for the program, where school students attend Remembrance ceremonies, learn about honour and sacrifice, and help ensure no gravestone of military personnel is left alone without a poppy.

This year’s No Stone Left Alone Ceremony will be held at Brandon Cemetery at 10 a.m. on Nov. 6.

 

While the Poppy Campaign and No Stone Left Alone are separate initiatives, both carry the same message: Remembrance must continue beyond Nov. 11.

Wearing a poppy, making a donation or taking part in a local ceremony are small actions that can make a difference. Together, they help keep the stories of those who served alive while supporting those who need assistance today.

 

As Remembrance Day approaches, the red poppy reminds us that remembrance is not limited to a ceremony or two minutes of silence. It is also about caring for veterans, supporting military families and passing the importance of service on to the next generation.

 

We remember those who served, we support those who remain, and we honour the sacrifices that must never be forgotten.

 

Remembrance Day Ceremonies at CFB Shilo will be held at the MPTF Building starting at 10 a.m. on Nov. 11.