Makeing the Poppy The Rememberance Day Symbol
Did you know the iconic red Remembrance Day poppy worn on lapels across Canada has a Thunder Bay connection?
In 1921, a Frenchwoman named Anna E. Guérin traveled to both Britain and Canada to propose making the poppy a symbol of remembrance for soldiers killed in the Great War. Her first Canadian stop was a meeting of the Great War Veterans Association of Canada (a predecessor of the Legion) held at Thunder Bay’s Prince Arthur Hotel on Cumberland St.
At the meeting on July 4, the members decided to adopt the poppy as its “Flower of Remembrance,” and that November, poppies were distributed in Canada for the first time.
Today, the hotel, now known the Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel & Suites, proudly displays a plaque commemorating the meeting. “In the last few years we’ve had veterans’ groups from Wisconsin and Minnesota come to stay, and they often pose for pictures in front of the plaque,” says Kory Morabito, sales manager at the hotel.
Built in 1911 (the brainchild of high rollers at a poker game), the Prince Arthur Hotel boasts high ceilings, intricate millwork and plenty of historic charm.
By Bonnie Schiedel
Bonnie Schiedel is an award-winning freelance writer and editor for print and web.