100th anniversary of Remembrance Day poppy underlines 'hope and gratitude' of Canadians
CBC
Every year, from the last Friday of October to Nov. 11, Canadians fasten bright red poppy pins over their hearts as a symbol of remembrance for sacrifices made by war veterans.
This year, the tradition is 100 years old — the centennial anniversary of the adoption of the poppy campaign in Canada.
"The poppy's connection to remembrance really grew from tragic loss, and as a story of hope and enduring gratitude," said Steven Clark, national executive director of the Royal Canadian Legion.
Each year, the legion sees the distribution of 18 million to 20 million poppy pins.
One of the origins of Canada adopting the poppy as a remembrance symbol came largely as a result of In Flanders Fields, a poem written by Lt-Col. John McCrae of Guelph, Ont., a Canadian medical officer during the First World War.
The famous poem reached far and wide, illustrating the tragedies and realities of the First World War.
French humanitarian Anna Guérin, inspired by McCrae's words, created poppies made of fabric to raise funds to help rebuild regions of France torn apart by the war.
Guérin presented her concept to France's allies, including the precursor to The Royal Canadian Legion, which was then called the The Great War Veterans Association.
Her concept of the poppy campaign was considered at an association convention in Thunder Bay, Ont., at the Prince Arthur Hotel, which still remains in operation.
On July 6, 1921, the resolution to adopt the poppy as the national flower of remembrance passed, and armistice day was set to be the first national poppy day that year.
"Part of the proceeds would go to support Anna Guérin's charity and the other part of the proceeds would be used to support veterans in Canada, and they move fairly quickly," said David Ratz, a historian and adjunct professor at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay who also co-authored Thunder Bay and the First World War, 1914- 1919 .
"There is a fair bit of support, and Anna Guérin has sort of generated a groundswell across the country, as well as the number of people in local areas who pick up the idea."
Ratz said more than $60,000 was raised through the first poppy campaign and it was viewed as a great success.
According to the Royal Canadian Legion, over two million poppies were distributed in the first year of the campaign in Canada.