Annual poppy drive kicks off
Posted October 25, 2013 3:15 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Royal Canadian Legion’s annual poppy drive is in full bloom in Toronto.
War vets will be handing out the bright red poppy pins on street corners, at subway stations and at grocery stores.
More than 18 million poppy pins were distributed to Legion branches.
The drive raises funds for veterans and their families. Last year, the campaign raised about $14-million. In Toronto, the campaign raised about $1-million.
“It’s a campaign that we look forward to every year because of the amount of monies that gets raised across the city(…) which all goes to the veterans’ comforts and any needs that the veterans would have,” Deputy District D Commander Kevin McLean told CityNews.
Money raised is used toward wheelchairs, home renovations to accommodate injured veterans and school bursaries for children of veterans, to name a few, he said.
“Get a poppy, thank a veteran, hug a veteran and say thanks for your service,” McLean said as a message he wanted to send the public.
The Toronto division kicked off its campaign with the TTC at Davisville station, alongside students from Davisville Public School and TTC Chair Karen Stintz.
Since 1921, the poppy has been used to honour soldiers and military personnel who lost their lives in war.
The TTC said its vehicles will pause and observe a moment of silence on Remembrance Day. TTC buses and streetcars will bear a sign that reads “Lest We Forget,” and a message will also run on all subway platform video screens.
All current and past members of Canada’s military and one companion can ride the TTC for free on Remembrance Day.
