Photo: Curtis Galbraith

By Emily Keller

poppy campaign 2019

2019 Poppy Campaign to run until November 11

Oct 31, 2019 | 4:08 PM

The Royal Canadian Legion’s 2019 Poppy Campaign for Remembrance Day started this month.

Joanne Wood, the Poppy Chair for the Grande Prairie Legion Branch 54, says so far this year, they have been struggling with getting volunteers.

“It is a lot of work for the poppy campaign, you have to be pretty dedicated to do it. It’s not a just ‘drop it of and walk away’ kind of thing, you’ve got to go back and check the poppy boxes, you have to be able to bring back whatever funds are there into the Legion. So, it’s an ongoing thing until pretty much the 10^th.”

She says anyone looking to volunteer can contact the Legion.

The money raised through the campaign goes towards many different things, says Wood.

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“The poppy fund is dedicated to our veterans and family. A lot of people don’t realize that we can assist a veteran’s family as well, and it goes towards things like medical travel, medications that aren’t covered, equipment like if they need a scooter or a wheelchair, anything like that.”

The Royal Canadian Legion has a list of partners where poppy boxes will be located on their website, and locations in Grande Prairie can be found through contacting the Legion Branch here.

Wood says that there is certain etiquette when it comes to wearing poppies.

“We don’t like to see Canadian flags holding, like the little Canadian flag pin, holding your pin on, like your poppy. You can purchase, or, it’s actually by donation, little black poppy centre pins at the Legion. We do have a limited number of them, though.”

She adds that the proper location for them is over the heart.

Woods also reminds teachers and students that the deadline for the Youth Remembrance Contests for the Grande Prairie Legion Branch is by end-of-day tomorrow.