A collection of one thousand hand-crocheted poppies crafted in Steinbach, Manitoba, has found a new home 3,000 kilometers away in Pictou, Nova Scotia, as part of a unique rural Canadian tribute to veterans this Remembrance Day.
The concept of linking rural veterans across Canada by attaching the crocheted poppies to fishnets for a display known as Poppies for Peace was conceived by T Sheppard-Luangkhot, the founder of OPEN (Organization for Peace, Equity and Nonviolence) based in Steinbach.
The poppies, created by volunteers from different generations, were dedicated to two veterans from different eras: David Porter, a current aviator from 144 Construction Engineering Flight, and Richard Sheppard, a veteran of the Second World War and flight instructor in the Signals Corps, who was Sheppard-Luangkhot’s grandfather.
Porter, who resides on the east coast, collaborated with the project by assisting in making perogies, which were sold to support Ukrainian refugees in Poland following Russia’s invasion in 2022.
The crocheted poppies were delivered to Pictou and are now on exhibit at the Murray Family Public Library. Local residents are contributing to the display by adding to the fishing net and inscribing names of individuals they are commemorating.
Additional poppies will be incorporated into the Steinbach display during its Remembrance Day event at the Pat Porter Active Living Centre, as confirmed by the center’s executive director, Audrey Harder. She praised the efforts of volunteers like Vera Lohr, who crocheted 300 poppies, each requiring approximately 30 minutes to complete.
Local junior hockey players from the Steinbach Piston team, including Grady Hoffman, assisted in attaching the crochet poppies to the net. Hoffman expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to contribute, emphasizing the importance of honoring those who have served and sacrificed for the country.
The handmade poppies also serve as a tribute to those who remained at home, supporting their loved ones while they were away at war. The inspiration for the crocheted poppies stemmed from the coping mechanism of Sheppard-Luangkhot’s grandmother, Clare Sheppard, who passed away shortly after her husband, Richard, in 2008.
The initiative aims to pay homage not only to the military and veterans but also to acknowledge the challenges faced by families of those who serve.