ELORA – After the inaugural Poppy Project exceeded organizers’ expectations last year, members of the St. John Anglican Church’s knitting club are bringing the initiative back.
Last year, over 100 people participated in what started out as a small community initiative through the local church group.
Entitled the Poppy Project, members of St. John’s fulfilled its 2021 vision of attaching more than 6,000 knitted or crocheted poppies to netting.
St. John’s Church, located at 36 Henderson St. in Elora, was home to thousands of knitted poppies cascading from the windows of the church’s steeple during the month of November.
Having originally aimed for 1,500 poppies the club ended up receiving over 7,200 poppies, which turned into an art display to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the poppy.
The church has once again received permission from the Elora Canadian Legion to continue the new tradition with a 2022 poppy display.
This year will mark the 2nd annual poppy display at the church, with focus being given to Colonel John McCrae who was born 150 years ago on Nov. 30.
This year, organizers hope to increase the display at the church, while also extending it to local businesses in the community.
Those looking to contribute can visit the Parish Centre – the yellow house beside the church – for yarn kits and patterns.
Patterns can be downloaded from the church’s website, www.stjohnselora.ca.
Currently, the church’s Knitters and Quilters group is repairing and upgrading last year’s banners before beginning to work on new designs.
For those interested in helping restore last year’s banner, the group meets on Wednesdays starting at 9:30am at the Parish Centre.
For more information or for local businesses looking to display a poppy garland from the end of October to mid-November, contact the Parish Office at 519-846-5911.
