It is important to remember that the basic purpose of funds raised during the Poppy Campaign is to enable Branches of the Royal Canadian Legion to provide immediate assistance to ex-servicemen and women in need. This includes providing food, shelter and medical attention for them or their families when necessary. Poppy funds also allow the Legion to “give back” to the local community in the form of bursaries to local schools, support of army, navy and air cadet corps, donations to local hospitals and other vital support programs. During the 2020 Poppy Campaign, our community donated $41,000 to our branch. Although this falls short by approximately $20,000 of the amounts raised before the pandemic, it does reflect the continued generosity of our community. These funds were directed to support our five cadet corps, Operation Leave the Streets Behind, Youth Education and the Perley and Rideau Health Centre.

The Poppy has been widely recognized as a symbol of Remembrance since it was first adopted in 1921. By wearing the Poppy, we demonstrate our gratitude to those who gave their lives for the freedom we enjoy. Legion Remembrance programs commemorate the men and women who died in the military service of Canada during war and peace.

The 2021 Poppy Campaign commences October 29 and runs till November 10. It is through the generosity of donations to the poppy campaign from our community that Branch 641 is able to provide financial support to our Veterans, youth and community organizations.

We are happy to be able to distribute poppies once again in person. This year, poppies and other Legion items (pins, hats, etc.) will be distributed from Friday, October 29 to Wednesday, November 10 at the following stores: Walmart, Metro, Loblaws, McDonough’s Your Independent Grocer, Farm Boy (Greenbank location) and Costco (Barrhaven location). 

If you would like to volunteer to distribute poppies, sign-up sheets are at the Branch. Please take as many shifts as you can so that we have them all covered.

Remembrance Day Ceremony

If you would like to purchase a wreath to be displayed at the Remembrance Day Ceremony on November 11, please contact Stéphane Guy by November 1 at rcl641president@hotmail.com. Wreaths will be pre-positioned at the memorial monument (instead of each wreath being placed at the memorial) and individuals and businesses that purchase wreaths will be announced at the ceremony and through various media. 

Once again, we must host a reduced Remembrance Day Ceremony on November 11. Missing again this year will be the parade of military, cadets, scouts and other local groups. Instead, the Barrhaven Legion will host a Colour Party and we will live stream this from John McCrae Secondary School on our Facebook page. Attendance at the ceremony will be extended to members of the Barrhaven Legion only.

We hope to be able to return to a public ceremony in 2022.

Have questions? Want to find out how you can help? Please contact Ed Schelenz, Poppy Chair, by email at edschelenz@rogers.com or by phone at (cell) 613-415-2708 (home) 613-843-1088.

** Supporting the Poppy Campaign means supporting Veterans in need
and Veteran and local community programs. **