How one Toronto woman’s idea for a poppy tapestry bloomed into something bigger

How One Toronto Woman’s Idea for a Poppy Tapestry Grew Into Something Bigger

The idea of walking long, unusual routes developed from a desire to socialize in new areas and create adventures, gaining millions of views online. Claire Laporte, a 61-year-old retiree, started the Legion 101 Poppy Project on Facebook to collect enough knitted poppies to form one tapestry for Remembrance Day at the Legion branch in Etobicoke.

She initially aimed for about 3,000 poppies but ended up gathering over 6,500 from volunteers all across Canada, including a package from California. Laporte said she felt “dumbfounded” and “honoured” by the generosity of people donating time and materials.

Inspiration From England’s Ceramic Poppy Display

Laporte was inspired by a similar art installation in England, where around 888,000 ceramic poppies were displayed at the Tower of London in 2014. Almost 30,000 of these original poppies returned this year, and she wanted to create a project with a comparable creative impact for Legion 101.

“We can’t forget some of the biggest sacrifices that people made so that we could be the society that we are, which is a diverse tapestry of people and talents,” Laporte said. “It’s a visual reminder of the past and sacrifices made and that we need to be vigilant moving forward.”

Volunteer Contributions

The project highlights the community’s commitment to remembering sacrifices and the power of coming together through creative tribute.

Author’s summary: Claire Laporte’s initiative to craft a poppy tapestry grew beyond expectations, uniting volunteers nationwide in a heartfelt tribute to sacrifice and remembrance.

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The Star The Star — 2025-11-06

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