99th poppy campaign to begin next week

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on October 25, 2025.

asmith@medicinehatnews.com

The start of this year’s poppy campaign is right around the corner, offering a chance for residents to show their support for veterans and those who have passed.

The National Poppy Campaign officially begins on Oct. 31, says the Royal Canadian Legion, with both new and returning initiatives.

One of these initiatives include electronic “Pay Tribute” boxes, which will be at select RBC branches and Royal Canadian Legion locations, roughly 2,300 locations in all. Those seeking to show support will also be able to offer poppies and other remembrance items via their website at poppystore.ca or their Amazon storefront, which is returning for a second year.

The legion continues to offer biodegradable poppies and wreaths.

Locally, it is largely business as usual, said Redcliff Legion poppy chair Chris Howells.

“Members of the Redcliff branch and some cadet forces will be at Costco and Princess Auto and Home Hardware in Redcliff,” said Howells.

He says they are carrying out the campaign as per dominion command and will also be covering the communities of Irvine and Dunmore in their work to raise money for the poppy fund.

Howells expresses gratitude to the Medicine Hat Legion, who they are working with to coordinate efforts for this year’s campaign.

“We are so grateful to the many donors each year, whose generosity allows us to serve our veteran community, including through gratitude for our fallen,” said dominion president Berkley Lawrence. “To that end, we are always looking at improving access to Poppies and updating Remembrance resources.”

This year marks 99 years of the poppy campaign for Redcliff legion, as it does for the Royal Canadian Legion at large. They are looking forward to the centennial in 2026, said Howell.

Upcoming in a much shorter timeframe is the legion’s veterans’ supper on Nov. 8, which those interested can sign up for by calling Redcliff Legion or adding their name to the signup sheet on site.

The funds raised by the campaign go directly into the poppy fund, which is used to support veterans and their needs throughout the year. It is a separate fund from the legion itself, said Howells.

Uses for the fund in the past have included needs such as service dogs, as processed through Alberta-Northwest Territories Command.

“It’s for the good and benefit of veterans that are inside our community. So we’re always looking for ideas to give that money out to, but this is our main focus for the Legion: to serve our veterans,” said Howells. “I’ve been poppy chair for five years, and every year it’s tremendous how people come out and support and remember them.”

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