Canadians will begin sporting their poppies next week in recognition of the sacrifice made by veterans.
The 2017 poppy campaign kicks off on Oct. 27. In Okotoks, more than 300 poppy boxes will be distributed among businesses, and manned tables will be set up at Costco, Safeway, Walmart, Home Depot and Save-On-Foods.
Okotoks Legion poppy campaign chair Maureen Haberstock said Legion members and their supporters – including local cadets and Girl Guide troops – will be at the manned locations.
“At those locations all the poppies will be provided with the little plastic backers,” said Haberstock. “Then we have some other items people can look at, such as car poppies and those sorts of things.”
She said last year the campaign raised close to $77,000 in Okotoks, which was a great expression of support from the community. The Legion hopes to raise at least the same amount this year, she said.
For the first time, the Okotoks Legion will be able to provide tax receipts for large corporate or personal donations, she said.
“That’s a big step for us,” said Haberstock. “We’re hoping businesses in Okotoks will be able to make a corporate donation.”
Proceeds from the campaign are strictly controlled in a trust fund, she said.
The money raised each year must directly benefit veterans and their families.
“That would include things like the bursaries and scholarships we’ve given to relatives of military members and veterans, and also funds for the prizes or the winners of our poster and literary contest in the schools,” said Haberstock.
She said the Legion has also been able to support local cadet organizations, and any veterans in need of assistance in the area.
In conjunction with the provincial Legion headquarters, she said the poppy fund has also supported community services that veterans and general citizens use, like the Foothills Country Hospice. The Okotoks Legion recently presented the hospice with $10,000 to purchase new equipment, she said.
Other initiatives supported by the poppy fund include the Military Family Resource Centre in Calgary, which also serves families in the Foothills, she said.
A traditional poppy campaign launch will begin on Oct. 26 with the pinning of the poppy on the Governor General at the federal level, followed by the lieutenant governor at the provincial level, and then with mayors at the municipal level.
The Okotoks Legion has planned its kick-off ceremony for 4 p.m. on Oct. 26 in front of the municipal building.
“It’s going to be a very short ceremony,” said Haberstock. “We do have some brief words and then the ceremonial raising of the poppy flag and the pinning of the poppy.”
She said the new town council will be present, as the ceremony takes place during an orientation seminar. Highwood MLA Wayne Anderson will also attend to represent the provincial government, she said.
