For the past two weeks volunteers at the Orléans Legion have been busy turning more than 11,000 knitted and crocheted poppies into a display to mark the 100th anniversary of the national veterans’ organization.
The Orléans Legion is among several Legion branches in Ontario that have launched their own Poppy Projects. The local project is the brainchild of Ladies Auxiliary president Wendy Fortier.
When the Legion first launched the project last spring, Fortier was hoping they might get 5,000 knitted and crocheted poppies. That goal was surpassed within the first six weeks and the poppies kept coming. In fact, knitted poppies are still arriving every day along with cash donations that have been used to purchase wool for other knitters.
The poppies been knitted by more than 50 individuals and a number of organizations including the Busy Fingers knitting club in Orléans, St. Helen’s Anglican Church and several seniors homes.
“I’m absolutely blown away,” says Fortier. “Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think we would get so many.”
One of the things that Fortier has found so interesting about the project is the many different types of poppies they’ve received. The poppies have been created using differ-ent shades of red wool and they’re a variety of different sizes.
More than 40 volunteers have been meet-ing at the Legion to attach the poppies to two large cargo nets. Fortier estimates they will need to meet again in a week or so to finish the job.
In the weeks leading up to Remembrance Day, the poppy festooned cargo nets will be draped over the outside wall of the Legion that faces the cenotaph.
The Royal Canadian Legion was founded in 1925 as the Canadian Legion of the British Empire Services League. The organization was essentially an amalgamation of 15 various veteran groups that formed in the years following the First World War. The largest of them was The Great War Veterans Association.
In 1960, Queen Elizabeth II granted the Canadian Legion of the British Empire Services League royal patronage and so it became the Royal Canadian Legion.
Today, there more than 1,350 branches of The Royal Canadian Legion located in communities across Canada.
The Orléans Legion is Branch 632 in Ontario. It was formed in 1980.
SDBC TAPROOM CONCERTS PRESENTS Rory Taillon live and in concert at the Stray Dog Brewing Company, 510 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park. Doors open 7:30 p.m. Tickets $10 in advance and $15 at the door.
TRIVIA NIGHT from 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday night at the Royal Oak Pub Orléans. Free to play. Prizes for the winning team! The Royal Oak Pub is located at 1981 St. Joseph Blvd. near Jeanne d'Arc. For more info visit 
TRIVIA NIGHT from 6:30 p.m. at the Stray Dog Brewing Company. Exercise your grey matter before it turns to mush over the holidays. Reservations are a must to secure your spot. Send your team name and number of people to info@straydogbrewing.ca. The Stray Dog Brewing Company is located at 501 Lacolle Way.
OPEN MIC NIGHT at the Stray Dog Brewing Company, 501 Lacolle Way. Registration begins at 7 p.m. Music at 8 p.m. with your host Matthew Palmer.
CUMBERLAND INDOOR WINTER MARKET from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the R.J. Kennedy Arena in Cumberland Village featuring local produce and products and items produced my local artisans PLUS a cash style breakfast.
