Paige LeClairPeople from all over Ontario have been making the drive to see Canada’s largest poppy being displayed in Bancroft, ON.
Hand-knitted by members of the community, the 11ft by 11ft art piece hangs above Heather Brough’s store, Vintage on Hastings, a volunteer-run store in support of Hospice.
“Last year we yarn bombed the bridge in the community with 2,000 hand-knitted poppies,” says Brough. “People were travelling over four hours to come to see, so we knew we had to do something bigger this year.”
The project took on a life of its own and instead of the planned rectangle design to fit the exterior awning of the store, it starting flowing into a circle, where they got the idea to make a giant poppy.
The new art centrepiece installed by the town of Bancroft is drawing attention and visitors, especially young ones.
“I really think something like this is the way to connect with the younger generation. They seem to grab hold or understand it, and like it in such a way, it’s now becoming their world, where we just had a little poppy on your lapel. It’s so much more now.”
Brough is no stranger to the Canadian Armed Forces. Her grandfather and brother served and she has two nephews still serving today. She says the poppy is a way to show remembrance and support to those who fought and are still fighting for us.
“We can’t be there with them, but we can support them.”
There are plans in the works for the future of the giant poppy. The community has reached out to the Canadian War Museum to donate the poppy to them, and a local MLA in the community is interested in bringing it to Ottawa next year.
