Thousands of volunteers will take to our country to help Canadians honour veterans this year.
The Royal Canadian Legion is excited the national 2022 Poppy Campaign will return to normal after years of pandemic restrictions.
Communications Manager Nujma Bond tells our newsroom thousands of volunteers will help distribute millions of poppies at more than 27,000 locations.
“So we’re really excited about this year’s Poppy Campaign for 2022 because many of the restrictions across the country have been lifted,” Bond says. “And there is variation still. But what it means is that we’re going to be back to normal in terms of our campaign, the volunteers that we have, and the places where we are.”
The Poppy Campaign raises close to $20 million each year with the funds used to support many of the Legion’s projects across the country. Funds raised locally stay local.
The money is used to help veterans, their families and communities, as well as to promote remembrance.
(CREDIT: Skye Bryden-Blom.)
Bond says Canadians have always had giving hearts, even during tough pandemic times.
“I would say that Canadians have traditionally always been generous, they were again, even during the pandemic years, they found ways to donate,” she explains. “And so we’re just really thankful that they are so generous and allow us to go forward with the various programs that we have to help veterans and their families. We anticipate Canadians will be just as generous this year.”
She adds it’s easy to donate with tap and pay options and digital poppies. This year they will launch biodegradable poppies.
Work also continues to engage youth. The Royal Canadian Legion will introduce an initiative called Poppy Stories.
It will allow Canadians to scan their lapel poppy with a smartphone. The scan will connect them with stories about everyday Canadians who have served the country and given their lives.
“It’s another neat and interesting way for young people to get involved and to learn something about those veterans who have served the country,” Bond says. “They’ll really to be able to identify with them because, at the end of the day, they’re everyday citizens like you and me.”
Bond adds they’ve been hearing good things from branches across the country in terms of securing volunteers to help out once the campaign launches on Friday.
