In honor of Remembrance Day, various communities throughout Ontario’s Niagara Region adorn their museums, churches, and legions with crocheted poppies through the Poppy Project. The initiative was spearheaded by Christine Girardi, an assistant curator at the Niagara Falls History Museum, in early 2020 as a local community art endeavor.
Girardi emphasized the importance of connecting community programs with history to engage residents and educate them about the sacrifices made during different wars involving Canadian troops. The Poppy Project gained international recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 11,000 knitted poppies gathered from Canada, the U.S., and Europe.
Yvonne Miller, a member of the StickN’ Needles Guild, highlighted how the project provided a sense of accomplishment during the pandemic. Museums, churches, and legions across Niagara expressed interest in hosting their own poppy displays to raise awareness about Remembrance Day and the sacrifices made.
Joanne Ring, the lead artist for the Poppy Project, explained that each knitted poppy symbolizes an individual who fought for Canada. These installations will remain on display until November 12.
In addition to the Poppy Project, Niagara is commemorating Remembrance Day through various events. Services and parades are scheduled in different locations, including St. Catharines, Lincoln, Thorold, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Port Colborne, Welland, Pelham, Wainfleet, and the Township of West Lincoln on November 9 and 11.
