The Royal Canadian Legion's annual poppy campaign has begun. Legion volunteer Wish Walters collects donations at Medicine Hat Mall in this 2012 file photo.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
The annual poppy campaign is underway in Medicine Hat as the Royal Canadian Legion moves toward the Remembrance Day observance on Nov. 11.
Sheila Donner, president of the Legion’s Robertson Memorial Branch No. 17, says donation boxes are now located at a variety of local businesses and booths at five main locations in the city, and are being staffed by volunteers and cadets.
“It’s a time for remembrance and reflection, as well as appreciation for what we have,” she said. “Look around the world today and right now it’s very precarious.
“It’s important to recognize the valour of so many, and really appreciate that we are so blessed in Canada.”
The annual Remembrance Day program will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Esplanade main theatre prior to a march along First Street to the Cenotaph at Riverside Veterans Memorial Park ahead of the 11 a.m. observance.
The Medicine Hat Concert Band and Medicine Hat College Girls Choir will participate.
Nov. 11 being a Saturday, Donner is expecting a large crowd, especially if mild weather persists into next week.
Legion poppy booths are located at Canadian Tire, Walmart, the Medicine Hat Mall and two South Country Co-op food store locations (Northlands and 13th Avenue).
