2020 Poppy Campaign

Important Dates

The 2020 Poppy Campaign begins Friday, 30 October 2020.  From 30 October 2020 to Remembrance Day millions of Canadians will wear a Poppy as a symbol of national pride and respect; a visual pledge to never forget.  

Each year the Legion conducts the Poppy Campaign to honour those who serve, and to raise funds in support of Veterans and their families.  During the Poppy Campaign you will see Poppy Trays in the Spruce Grove and Area Businesses that have offered to place a tray on their counters. 

Unfortunately, this year you will not see our Veterans and Legion Members standing at the entrances of Spruce Grove and Area Businesses as you usually do, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  But we invite you to please take a Poppy from the trays you see in our community and wear it during the Poppy Campaign; donations to the Poppy Fund are appreciated. 

The donations to the Poppy Fund directly support Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP, and their families.  Poppy Funds may also be used for purposes such as the relief of disasters (when declared such by the Provincial or Federal Government) where Veterans may be impacted in those communities, and the promotion and administration of Remembrance activities to ensure that Canadians never forget the sacrifices of our Veterans.  

The Local Branches, each Provincial Command, and the National Command in Ottawa hold their Poppy Fund "in trust", in a specific and separate bank account.  The use of these trust funds is strictly controlled and are only used to assist Veterans and their families, as permitted by the Legion's Poppy Manual.  They are never used for the Legion Branches or the Command

Each October, prior to the start of the new Poppy Campaign, we will provide on this website the details of how the Poppy Campaign Donations from the previous year were utilized by our Branch.


Utilization of 2019 Poppy Funds

During the 2019 Poppy Campaign the public donated $27,370.00 to the Spruce Grove Legion’s Poppy Fund.  

 

Since 31Oct2019, funds have been approved by AB-NWT Command for disbursement in compliance with the Poppy Manual. 

  • Poppy Campaign Expenses
  • Educational Bursary
  • Donations to:
    • Copper Sky Lodge Spruce Grove (where several Veterans reside)
    • The Good Samaritan Society-Spruce Grover (where several Veterans reside)
    • St. Michael's Grove Manor (where several Veterans reside) 
    • Park Place Senior's Living (where several Veterans reside)
    • 755 Parkland Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron 
    • 203 Parkland Navy League Cadet Corps Erwin J. Stolk
    • Valour Place (a temporary "home away from home" for all Canadian Forces members, RCMP, Families of the Fallen, Veterans and First Responders along with their families who require medical treatment in Edmonton.  It is located near the Royal Alexandra Hospital).  
    • AB-NWT Command Poppy Fund
    • HiMarc (Heroes iMind, Advocacy and Research Consortium).  HiMARC is a collaborative initiative and provincial hub that aims to develop, evaluate and help implement solutions to improve the resilience, readiness and growth, as well as health and well-being of military members, Veterans, Public Safety Personnel, and their families. 

Remembrance Day Ceremony 2020

After discussion with the City of Spruce Grove, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are not able to hold a Remembrance Day Ceremony at the TriLeisure Centre this 11th November. 

However, a small modified ceremony will be held at the Spruce Grove Legion at 10:30 am.  Unfortunately, and again due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the size of our Branch, we must limit the number of people in the Branch.  Attendance is therefore restricted to Veterans and Legion Members (so no children this year please) and is on a pre-registered, first come-first served basis. To register please call 780-962-4598 and register with Cheryl. Alternatively, you may come to the Branch on Saturday, 31st October between 2 and 5 pm to register in person.  Email registrations cannot be accepted.  Walk-ins on 11th Nov will NOT be permitted as it is critical that we control our number in order to maintain our compliance with AHS and to protect our Veterans and Legion Members.

The City will be posting a Remembrance Service Announcement. 

We invite everyone to please observe a moment of silence, wherever you may be at the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, to mark the sacrifice of so many.