Remembrance Reflection

A commemorative community project

Image of crocheted poppies and photos of soldiers

Take a minute to pause, reflect, and keep the memory alive.

Join the City of Waterloo Museum, the Canadian Legion and the Waterloo Public Libraries for a community commemorative poppy, and story project reflecting on those who served in times of war from around the world. Through this project, we will be collecting knitted or crocheted poppies, stories of family members who served in war, and personal reflection from the community.

Knitted or Crocheted Poppies

We are starting the call early for 2024! Would you like to take part?

From April until November 4, 2024 various locations around the City will be handing out supplies to knitting or crocheting poppies. You can participate by using any shade of red and black wools from your personal collection or pick up a kit starting April at various locations listed below. This portable activity can be done in front of the television or at the cottage on a summer’s day. Completed poppies can be dropped off at the Community Pavilion (101 Father David Bauer Drive) or the City of Waterloo Museum at Conestoga Mall (550 King St. N.).

Pick up locations for bags will be:

Albert McCormick Community Centre

Community Pavilion

Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 530

RIM Park

City of Waterloo Museum

Waterloo City Centre

Waterloo Public Library - Main

Waterloo Public Library - McCormick

Waterloo Public Library- John M. Harper

Waterloo Public Library- Eastside

Not sure how to Knit or Crochet but want to contribute?

Check out these at home tutorial videos to learn how to make some poppies and join the project!

Left-Handed Poppy Tutorial

Right-Handed Poppy Tutorial

Download the pattern to knit or crochet poppies

For more information, contact leisureprogramming@waterloo.ca

Poppy Making Workshops

The City of Waterloo will be offering poppy making workshops this fall. Registration will follow closer to the work dates.

September 23 - 10 am to 12 pm at the Community Pavilion

October 16 - 5 pm to 7pm at Waterloo Public Library

October 22 - 10 am to 12 pm at Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 530 Waterloo

November 4 - 10 am to 12 pm at the Community Pavilion

Share Stories and Photos

Image of crocheted poppies with photo of nurses

If knitting or crocheting are not your thing, perhaps you can share a short little story or poem that can capture a breadth of emotion including amusement, pride, despair, love and gratitude. Please feel free to include a digital photograph of the individual or a memento that reminds you of them. To do so you can email your digital submissions to museum@waterloo.ca

Here are two samples to inspire story sharing:

Buckam Singh

Image of crocheted poppies with photo of soldier in uniform

Buckam Singh was one of the first Sikh Canadian WW1 Soldiers. Despite much discrimination in the military at the time, Buckam enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces in the spring of 1915 in Toronto. After he enlisted, Private Buckam was placed with the 20th Canadian Infantry Battalion. In 1916, he participated in battles around Flanders - where John McCrea was stationed and penned his famous poem. Here, Private Buckam was wounded on two separate occasion. The second injury caused Private Buckam to be sent to England, then Kitchener for recovery. He did not recover and eventually passed away at age 25. He is buried in the Mount Hope Cemetery.

Lillian Dorothy (Bond) Peirce

Born in Kitchener and growing up on Mary Street, Lillian was the first woman from Waterloo to enlist in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force in 1941. The Women’s Auxiliary was later renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force Women’s Division and shorted to WD. The goal of WD was to replace men in behind the scenes roles such as mechanics, drivers and more. Following the war, Lillian married Allen Peirce. The couple settled in the Veterans Green development in Waterloo and called 71 Hickory Street home.

Personal Reflections

Take some time to reflect - to really stop and think about what has happened; is happening, and what should happen next in the world, community, society or personally in relation to remembrance, war and peace. Write a poem, short thought or draw a reflection that we can share with the community. These items will be shared with the poppies.

For more information, contact museum@waterloo.ca

The Poppy design is a registered trademark of The Royal Canadian Legion, Dominion Command and is used under license.

Last updated on September 26, 2024

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