For the Thorold Legion, it’s going to be a challenge as it will be relatively difficult for groups across Canada to run Remembrance activities because of the Covid-19 Pandemic. As a response to the challenge, the Legion Branch 17 will accept online Poppy donations on the GoFundMe Charity website.
Volunteers will also help promote the traditional “POPPY” campaign. Look for the volunteers scheduled at various times and places across our community. Please step up with fellow Thoroldites to support this very worthy and needed cause.
As a community tradition in Thorold, Legion Branch #17 will hold a ceremony on Remembrance Day, November 11th, forming up at the cenotaph at Memorial Park for the service at 11:00 am. The ceremony will be limited to participants only, in order to follow the outdoor gathering protocols that are in place.
The Remembrance Parade typically scheduled as a community event on a Sunday in early November at Memorial Park will not be presented in 2020 due to the restrictions on outdoor gatherings.
Wear the Poppy as Symbol of Remembrance
From the last Friday in October to Remembrance Day, millions of Canadians wear a Poppy as a visual pledge to never forget those who sacrificed for our freedom. Please show recognition and respect by proudly wearing the Poppy as a symbol of Remembrance and taking a moment to reflect.
Across the country, a pilot project to introduce new touchless donation boxes, and the lighting of iconic landmarks in Canada are innovations marking the launch of The Royal Canadian Legion National Poppy Campaign this year. Millions of poppies will be distributed in familiar and new locations across Canada.
“We have more than thirty important partners this year, and traditional donation boxes at 25,000 locations,” says Thomas D. Irvine, CD, Dominion President of The Royal Canadian Legion. “While we’ve had to make some changes because of the pandemic, there are several ways to donate and we are hopeful Canadians will respond as generously as they always do.”
Thomas D. Irvine, CD, Dominion President of The Royal Canadian Legion
A significant change will be the introduction of new touchless donation boxes in partnership with HSBC Bank Canada. There will be 250 “Pay Tribute” boxes across the country, including in most HSBC Bank branches, in several Ontario Legion Branches, and in some select retail locations. The boxes will accept fee-free touchless donations in two-dollar increments, from any tap-enabled device or card. Donors can also choose to take a lapel poppy from the box, as they would from a traditional box.
Along with traditional and electronic Pay Tribute boxes, donors can choose to donate online via Legion.ca. The digital poppy presented in partnership with HomeEquity Bank will also be available again this year at www.mypoppy.ca. It is a project of the Legion National Foundation – a charity also dedicated to supporting Veterans and promoting Remembrance.
In Niagara Falls, Ontario, red lights coloured the Falls from 10:00-10:15 pm ET on October 30 to mark the launch of the Poppy Campaign. On Remembrance Day, the Falls will also be lit in red hourly, beginning at 4:30 pm for the entire evening.
“Each year, Canadians show a tremendous amount of gratitude,” says Irvine. “Our fallen Veterans sacrificed for our freedoms and we will always remember them. Through donations to the campaign, Canadians support the Legion’s critical work to help ensure the well-being of serving Veterans. We thank them for their generosity.”
Thomas D. Irvine
On the first night of the Poppy Drop, Dominion Carillonneur Dr. Andrea McCrady will also play “The Last Post” on the Peace Tower bells before the first poppy falls. Those unable to watch in person can tune in to Facebook Live on the Legion’s Facebook page.
Funds donated across the country during the National Poppy Campaign support Veterans and their families. Funds donated locally stay local.
Did You Know About Legion Bursaries?
As part of the Legion’s commitment to Veterans and their families, Branch 17 grants bursaries through the Poppy Trust Fund to the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Veterans who need financial assistance to pursue a post-secondary education. These bursaries can make a difference for Veterans’ families and offers these children an opportunity to further their educational goals.