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.
JEFF LEIPER LISTENING TOUR stop from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Stray Dog Brewing Company, 501 Lacolle Way. Come out and share ideas, raise concerns, and talk about the issues with mayoralty canddiate Jeff Leiper.
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 in the Taylor Creek Business Park.
OPEN MIC NIGHT upstairs at the Orléans Legion, 800 Taylor Creek Dr. starting at 7 p.m. Singing, comeday, poetry and more. All level of talent welcomne. Sign up at the door. Bring some friends and have some fun.
MOTHER'S DAY TEA PARTY hosted by the Rotary Club of Orléans from 12 noon to 2 p.m. in the basement of Paroisse St-Joseph, 2757 St-Joseph Blvd. Tickets $50, $20 for children 5-12. Best fascinator contest. For more information, please contact Director of Fundraising Mashooda Syed at 613-255-0870. Money raised will go to the Columbia Learning Centre the Corner of Knowledge.
