Murray Wood: Who's hot... and who's not
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Boxes of bright red poppies will be set up across the province starting today.
It’s part of the Royal Canadian Legion’s Poppy Campaign, which runs until Remembrance Day on Nov. 11. This year also marks the Legion’s 100th anniversary.
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- VIDEO: Wainwright community deeply shaken by military base tragedy
The first poppy of 2026 in Saskatchewan was pinned on Saskatchewan Lieutenant-Governor Bernadette McIntyre, who said she is wearing it in remembrance of her late mother, who served in Liverpool, England, as a radar operator in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.
“Mom was proud of her contributions to the war effort, and of being a veteran,” McIntyre said. “I also wear the poppy as a symbol of gratitude for all the women and men who have served in our military.”
McIntyre encouraged everyone to make a donation and wear a poppy.
“Wearing a red flower on your lapel may seem like a small gesture, yet with millions of poppies sold throughout Canada each year, the benefits are huge,” she said.
“In addition to the significant funds raised, the annual poppy campaign increases public awareness as it leads up to Remembrance Day and memorial services held across our great country.”
With tears in her eyes, Canadian Armed Forces veteran Georgia Morgan received the second poppy in Saskatchewan this year.
Lieutenant-Governor Bernadette McIntyre pinning a poppy on CAF veteran Georgia Morgan. (Abby Zieverink/980 CJME)
Morgan enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1978, when she was 18 years old. After basic training in Nova Scotia, she trained as a medic at the National Defence Medical Centre in Ottawa and was chosen to join the cardiac ward there as a junior member.
“I almost turned it down to be selected for this,” Morgan said.
“Yes, I’m a veteran, but because I, as the term goes, never proved myself under fire, as a result a lot of us don’t necessarily see ourselves as veterans.”
Morgan said she is a bit more emotional this year after seeing the poppy pinned to her shirt, particularly after a fire in Wainwright, Alta. left four Canadian soldiers dead last week.
“I was actually asked to represent veterans, which I feel is quite the honour,” she said.
“You cannot put Wainwright out of your head when you’re looking at the poppy this year. It is definitely a time to reflect, definitely a time to remember service, sacrifice and remembrance.”
When you put on a poppy, Morgan said it’s a promise to remember all those who served the country and paid the price.
“It’s not just an ornament. There is sacrifice behind this. So if you’re putting it on, you need to remember what that was for those individuals,” she said.
“It’s not just throwing on a pin because it’s November. There needs to be thought and consideration behind it.”
Roberta Taylor, provincial president of the Royal Canadian Legion’s Saskatchewan Command, said she wants people to think about remembrance when they see the poppy.
Roberta Taylor, provincial president of the Royal Canadian Legion’s Saskatchewan Command. (Abby Zieverink/980 CJME)
“This small flower represents years of dedicated service to this country, many, many lives lost, many, many injuries incurred, and soldiers today that perhaps have been spared their lives are still dealing with the injuries that come back from the horrors of war,” Taylor explained.
“Without those people that served, without the job they did, without their courage, their dedication, we would not be living the life we live now.”
She encouraged everyone to grab a poppy when they see a poppy box while they’re out and about.
“If you don’t have any cash in your pocket, but you want to wear a poppy, take a poppy and wear that poppy,” she said.
“It’s not totally about the money. It’s about remembering, so please feel free to wear that poppy.”
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