'I had friends, I lost friends': Veterans reflect on past at launch of annual TTC Poppy Campaign
Canadian veterans, along with students from Davisville Public School, launched the Toronto Royal Canadian Legion’s annual TTC Poppy Campaign at Leslie Subway Station on Friday.
“A red poppy is a symbol of remembrance, the hope for a peaceful future. Poppies are worn as a show of support for the veterans who have served, and those who are still serving,” said Commander John Dufort.
Veterans reminded Toronto residents to wear a poppy — in honour of the men and women who served our country.
“I had friends, I lost friends, and you had to serve your country. There were bad people out there and war was a rough time, but you had to serve your country,” recalled army veteran, Morris AGAMS.
While many reflected on the bravery and patriotism of those who served, navy veteran Richard Ratcliffe called attention to those who stayed behind.
“Don’t forget the people that were left behind that had to carry on their lives themselves until we came back.”
A new initiative this year, designed to help build a tangible link to the past, is called “Poppy Stories.” People can scan their poppies with their smartphones at “poppystories.ca” to read short stories about Canadian veterans who died in service.
The Royal Canadian Legion is also phasing in new biodegradable poppies and wreaths this year to reduce their environmental footprint. It will take a few years to use up all existing stock, but eventually, all poppies used during the campaign will be biodegradable.
The annual poppy campaign runs through to Remembrance Day on Nov. 11.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
Passenger killed, 30 injured as Singapore Airlines flight hits severe turbulence
One passenger was killed and 30 injured after a Singapore Airlines SIAL.SI flight from London hit severe turbulence en route on Tuesday, forcing it to make an emergency landing in Bangkok, officials and the airline said.
Conservatives kick off return to House with new call for Speaker Greg Fergus to resign
Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives returned to the House of Commons on Tuesday with a renewed call for Speaker Greg Fergus to resign, this time over 'very partisan' and 'inflammatory' language used to promote an upcoming event.
Trump campaign calls 'The Apprentice' 'blatantly false,' director offers to screen it for him
Donald Trump's reelection campaign called 'The Apprentice,' a film about the former U.S. president in the 1980s, 'pure fiction' and vowed legal action following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. But director Ali Abbasi is offering to privately screen the film for Trump.
Feels like mid-30s in parts of Canada, while other areas expecting snow
Anything is possible this week, as far as Canada's weather is concerned, with forecasts ranging from scorching heat in some parts of the country to rain and snow in others.
Nestle to sell $5 pizza, sandwiches in the U.S. for Wegovy, Ozempic users
Nestle NESN.S will market a new, US$5 line of frozen pizzas and protein-enriched pastas in the United States which it says it designed specifically for people taking drugs such as Wegovy or Ozempic for weight loss.
How much more Canadian consumers are paying, compared to this time last year
Canada's annual inflation rate slowed to a three-year low of 2.7 per cent in April, matching expectations, and core measures continued to ease, data showed on Tuesday, likely boosting chances of a June interest rate cut.
Amal Clooney is one of the legal experts who recommended war crimes charges in Israel-Hamas war
Amal Clooney is one of the legal experts who recommended that the chief prosecutor of the world's top war crimes court seek arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and leaders of the militant Hamas group.
Flight PS752 victims' families say they're not sorry to hear of Iran president death
Members of a Canadian group representing families of those killed when Iranian officials shot down Flight PS752 in January 2020 say they are not sorry to hear of the death of Iran's president.