Poppy Project 2023
We had such a wonderful response from the community our team has decided to add banners to both Hagersville and Caledonia this year and we are eager to again work with the many groups and individuals who knitted and crocheted the poppies to add to the banners.
In 2022 the goal was to have about 900 poppies for a banner to add to the garden leading up to the Cenotaph at the Edinburgh Square Heritage and Cultural Centre. We had over 2500 poppies when the banners were completed and ready to install at the Cenotaph 80 Caithness St East in Caledonia. The museum building in behind represents a cornerstone of history in Haldimand County. It is more than 150 years old and was formerly the Town Hall building in Caledonia
In January we had 120 poppies donated and by April over 1000 from various community groups we were able to surpass ur targeted goal.
St. Paul's prayer Shawl Group, Cayuga Seniors, Caledonia Seniors and many individuals.
The members and friends of Haldimand Horticultural Society gathered in September to assemble the display at the workshop of our President, Elsie Eubank.
We will continue to accept poppies dropped off at the libraries in Caledonia, Hagersville, Cayuga and Jarvis for next year. this has been a very successful project for connecting Haldimand Horticultural Society and people from the community.
The idea came from Ontario Horticultural Association District Director Catherine McGill who was associated with the Niagara on the Lake Poppy Project. Catherine encouraged us early in November 2021 to discuss the opportunity of creating a display in the Haldimand Horticultural Society gardens at the Caledonia Cenotaph similar to the one she saw in Niagara on the Lake. Our initial goal was to collect 900 poppies but our group of gardeners would not be able to accomplish this without the help of those who love to crochet and knit.
Selkirk Poppy Project member Jenny Bryce was the inspiration for a wonderful display in Selkirk last year. Jenny encouraged us to begin early in January and on November 11, 2021 she sent us the pattern the Selkirk Poppy Group used to crochet and knit their poppies. We added the patterns to our website and dropped off a few patterns at the local libraries in Haldimand.
* Anne Jay a member since 1998 of Haldimand Horticultural Society encouraged the St. Paul’s Prayer Shawl Group to contribute poppies. This is a knitting club she meets with weekly at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Caledonia. Anne herself crocheted 450 poppies and included a few of the purple poppies in remembrance of the animals who also made the great sacrifice.
Horses were used to move heavy equipment , dogs to detect explosives & locate wounded soldiers, messenger pigeons, and companions for the soldiers.
* HHS member Shaunna Beaty also crocheted the special purple poppies for the project
* Barb Wilson, Vice President of Haldimand Horticultural Society crocheted 311 in honour of her father James McAlpine Harrison- 2nd WW, her two Grandpas, Fred Harrison and Arthur Vernon- 1st WW and her father-in-law Charlie Fay- 2nd WW.
* Judy Dugan and Mary Martindale members of the Cayuga Seniors Drop in Centre knitting club donated 140 poppies
* Caledonia Cypress Knitting Club donated poppies. Their group meets at the Cypress 55+ Seniors Building on Inverness Street providing leisure activities for older adults
* Wanda Nelson working at the Jarvis Library would bring poppy donations made by The Jarvis Knitting Social Club which meets at the Jarvis library Thursdays 2-4pm
* We had a special contribution from Audrey Teal a senior who at 93 years in March donated poppies she knitted for our Poppy Project. Audrey has since passed away but we are grateful for her contribution.
* Haldimand Horticultural Society has a youth group called the Green Gardians who created a special banner with a flag
LEST WE FORGET that hung from the upper landing at the front of the Edinburgh Square Heritage & Cultural Centre
Haldimand Horticultural Society would like to thank everyone who contributed to the Poppy Project and we are so grateful for the support of the various groups and individuals.