Royal Canadian Legion Branch 63 in Saskatoon started their Poppy Campaign on Friday morning with the pinning of the first poppy.

The first poppy of the campaign was pinned on to Mayor Cynthia Block by Ruth Bond-Martinson, a 100-year-old WWII veteran who founded the all-women Maple Leaf Unit of the ANAVETS in Saskatoon.

Mayor Block says she was honoured to have the poppy pinned on to her by a woman who has spent her life fighting for a free society and supporting other women.

“As the first female mayor, I’m actually struck by the opportunity to get to be with Ruth this morning and that Ruth put the poppy on me. Learning about your life is so incredibly inspiring.”

Block says that wearing a poppy is important as people must remember those who gave their lives for Canada.

“It is so incredibly important that we continue to wear the poppy, that we continue to remind ourselves that the original welcomers of us all made sure that we were the land of the free. Because of the defenders of our country and our city and our province, we get to continue to live in a free and open society.”

“I don’t think I can underscore how important it is that we continue to remember that we wear the poppy, that we get to know our service people from the Second World War and beyond. I know that the fight for freedom and the fight for the right or all of us to have a good life continues, and we need to instill that in the generations to come.”

This year’s campaign will raise money to be put into a trust account that is used to help veterans struggling with homelessness and near homelessness or medical issues.

Poppies will be distributed at various locations in Saskatoon on Saturday during Cadets Poppy Tag Day. The Poppy Campaign will conclude on November 11th, with a ceremony at SaskTel Centre.