The red poppy was made famous by Colonel John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Fields” way back during the First World War. It is loved so much by so many people.. And not just Canadians.

Earlier this month, I spent several hours distributing poppies in front of the LCBO and the Valumart (I know, I know, the Independent), on Queen Street in Old Town. Many other locals were involved, and in general, the weather co-operated this year.

Apparently, poppies have been worn in Canada since 1921, and poppy proceeds support programs of the Royal Canadian Legion. Volunteers at branches across our spacious nation participate every year, and we must not take big and national efforts like this for granted.

Especially in our current world, seemingly so divided and torn over so many issues, it was gratifying to learn that love for the poppy is universal. There is such affection and warmth regarding the wee red flower with the black dot in the middle. People from many countries stopped by to make a donation and get their poppy.

A surprising number had a short personal vignette to share with me. Often about a family member who had served. Or is serving now. During my time on “poppy duty,” not one person, of any age or with any accent, shared a negative thought. It was totally love, affection and fondness around the poppy.

How gratifying to learn there is something upon which we all seem to agree. We should call it “poppy love.”

But led by social media and other news channels that influence our thinking today, even the poppy has been forced into the limelight this week. Is nothing sacred?

As is my habit, I have rambled into this issue. Some Canadian court officials have supported “the discretionary power of judges to ban legal staff from wearing poppies on their clothing.”

So I will ask again, “Is nothing sacred any longer?” Just what is the relevance of the poppy?

My poppy research took me to an article by Jamie Sarkonak in the National Post dated Nov. 8, 2025. I quote her lead paragraph: “The poppy is a symbol of remembrance that’s supposed to transcend political tiffs, honouring those who sacrificed their lives to ensure Canada’s continued existence. And yet, to some judges in the country, it’s now considered so political that it must be banned from the courtroom.”

Thankfully, some sanity seems to have entered the conversation. A spokesman for Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey told the National Post that poppies should be permitted to be worn no matter where you are in Ontario — including in courtrooms.”

Nothing should surprise us anymore, but legislation was passed in 2021 to protect workers’ rights to wear poppies.

Please bear with me as I ramble again about public reaction to the poppy here in NOTL.

Many young children appeared charmed when their mom or dad gave them a poppy. A middle-aged Australian bloke reminded me that so many Aussies have served side by side with Canadians.

A couple from India donated more than enough for two poppies, to remember our veterans for military service back in their country during the Second World War. And for peacekeeping efforts more recently.

Let’s remember here that Canada’s former prime minister Lester Bowles Pearson was awarded a Nobel Prize for peace in 1957, for his efforts with the United Nation Peacekeeping Force to solve the Suez Crisis.

My wandering mind had me humming, “And they call it puppy love.” This led to “And they call it poppy love.”

We Canadians never miss an opportunity to remind people that Ottawa’s own Paul Anka had a massive hit with this song in 1960. He apparently wrote it while thinking about Mouseketeer Annette Funicello.

Still with me? How about another factoid I learned this week? Dolly Parton wrote this much-loved song in 1959, when she was only 13 years old.