The Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 52 in Stonewall will officially launch its annual poppy campaign on Friday morning.
Stonewall Mayor Sandra Smith received the first poppy from Legion president Ken Power earlier this week, marking the traditional start of the campaign held each year on the last Friday of October.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 52 president Ken Power pins the first poppy on Town of Stonewall Mayor Sandra Smith on Friday, marking the start of the 2025 poppy campaign. The annual initiative raises funds to support veterans and their families in the community
“The poppy is our national symbol of remembrance and gratitude,” said Power. “Every year, it gives Canadians an opportunity to honour those who served and sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy today.”
Funds raised through the campaign support veterans and their families, as well as community programs that uphold remembrance and service. Donation boxes and poppies will now be available at local businesses and public buildings in Stonewall and surrounding communities leading up to Remembrance Day.
Power noted that proceeds from Stonewall’s campaign often reach beyond the community. Last year, the branch donated $5,880 to support five veterans in Winnipeg who were previously homeless and are now receiving housing and ongoing assistance through a veterans’ support initiative.
“Every dollar raised through the poppy campaign goes directly to veterans and their families in need,” he said. “These funds change lives — and that’s something our community can be proud of.”
Smith said receiving the first poppy carried personal meaning.
“The campaign hits close to home for me,” she said. “I’ve had family members serve in the First and Second World Wars, so I know firsthand how important these supports can be for veterans and their families.”
She said remembrance should be part of everyday life, not only marked on Nov. 11.
“It’s important to reflect on the sacrifices of those who served so we can enjoy the freedoms we have today,” Smith said. “And it’s just as important to teach younger generations about the tragedies of war, so they understand the price that was paid for peace — and so that history does not repeat itself.”
The Royal Canadian Legion’s national poppy campaign runs until Nov. 11, culminating in Remembrance Day services across the country.
