Image Credit: Kent Simmonds / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

first poppy ceremony

First poppies given to Kamloops mayor, Tk’emlúps Kúkpi7

Oct 23, 2024 | 6:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — Ahead of the official start of Canada’s poppy campaign, the Kamloops Legion and ANAVETS representatives pinned the first poppy to Kamloops’ mayor and Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Kúkpi7 Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 23).

Each year, starting on the last Friday of October and lasting until November 11, people across the country wear a poppy. The practice is meant to honour Canada’s veterans and to show that the sacrifices made for freedoms enjoyed today haven’t been forgotten.

This week, a small gathering was held at the Battle Street cenotaph for the First Poppy Ceremony. The pinning is held prior to the official kickoff of the Royal Canadian Legion’s poppy campaign, which collects funds to support veterans in the community.

“I have to say that last year, the people of Kamloops were extremely generous. We broke a record for the first time. It was amazing,” notes Daniel Martin, the president of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 52. “The support is unbelievable from this community.”

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First poppies are given to the mayor of Kamloops, Reid Hamer-Jackson, and Tk’emlúps Kúkpi7 Rosanne Casimir. This pinning also marks the second year band leadership has been involved in the First Poppy ceremony.

When asked what they thought of while receiving the first poppy, Hamer-Jackson said awareness came to mind.

“I think about the people who lost their lives and how much they did for all of us, and I really think we need to continue to really acknowledge and get our younger generation to be involved,” he said.

While Kúkpi7 Casimir spoke to the sacrifices made and the impacts people lived with.

“The thoughts that were going through my head when this poppy was getting pinned to me was thinking about the lives that were lost for the benefits that we have today,” she reiterates, “and thinking about the families who are also impacted but also thinking about the ones who also came home.”

Volunteers and Legion members can be found at locations around the city starting this Friday (Oct. 25) up until Remembrance Day to distribute poppies and collect donations.