From left, Fred Malott, Legal Poppy Chair; Kevin Veenstra, Legal Town
Councillor; Maurice St. Denis, Morinville Councillor; Jenn Anheliger, Morinville Councillor;
Jayson Wood, Deputy Mayor; Kristena Dingwell, Constituency Office Manager for MLA Dale
Nally; Dale Nally, MLA for Morinville-St. Albert; Hans Brink, representing MP Michael
Cooper; and Patrick Love, President of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 176 Morinville, take part
in the evening Poppy Presentation at the Legion. Photo: Lucie Roy
By Haylee Winger
Morinville Mayor Simon Boersma received the community’s first poppy for this year’s campaign
during a presentation at Town Hall on October 23.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 176 Morinville President Patrick Love presented the poppy to
Boersma in the Council Chamber. Other Poppy Presentations were held later that evening at the
Legion due to scheduling and other commitments.
This year also marks the first time the Poppy Flag will be displayed in front of Town Hall. The
flag will continue to be displayed at the Legion as part of the annual tradition.
Starting in 2026, the Poppy Campaign will follow a set schedule, running from October 24
through November 11 each year. In previous years, the campaign began on the last Friday of
October, meaning the dates changed from year to year and the campaign lasted between 12 and
18 days.
The new consistent schedule is intended to make it easier for businesses, schools and community
organizations to plan their involvement.