Communities throughout the Niagara Region in Ontario are adorning their museums, churches, and legions with crocheted poppies as part of the Poppy Project to commemorate Remembrance Day.
In early 2020, Christine Girardi, an assistant curator at the Niagara Falls History Museum, spearheaded the initiative as a local community art endeavor.
Girardi emphasized the importance of connecting programs at the museum with historical roots, engaging the community in new ways, and delving into the region’s past. She highlighted that the project aimed to pay tribute to Remembrance Day and honor the sacrifices made during various wars involving Canadian troops.
Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Poppy Project gained international recognition, gathering 11,000 knitted poppies from across Canada, the United States, and Europe.
Yvonne Miller, a member of the StickN’ Needles Guild, a crochet and knitting group in Niagara, expressed that the project provided a sense of accomplishment during the challenging times of the pandemic.
Various institutions in Niagara, including museums, churches, and legions, contacted Girardi to arrange their own poppy installations.
Girardi emphasized that the visual impact of the poppies lining the streets would hopefully prompt passersby to reflect more deeply on Remembrance Day and the sacrifices it commemorates.
Joanne Ring, the lead artist for the exterior of the Poppy Project, described the knitted poppies as symbolic representations of each individual who fought for Canada.
The installations are set to remain on display until November 12.
“I’m very proud to be a part of it,” said Yvonne Miller, a member of the StickN’ Needles Guild. The guild is a group of local knitting enthusiasts who help crochet thousands of poppies for the Pop
