Community comes together for Port Perry’s Poppy Project

COLLEEN GREEN The Standard

SCUGOG: A community-wide effort, led by Sharon Runnells, of Branching Out Floral and Gifts, in Port Perry, has transformed the exterior of the Scugog Township Municipal Office into a striking display of crocheted and knitted poppies, in honour of those who served and sacrificed for our country.

The Poppy Project began with conversations about family members, who served during wartime, and the importance of keeping their stories alive.

“Talking about family members, who were in the war, just opened up lots of conversation about remembrance and the significance of remembrance,” Ms. Runnells explained. “That sort of inspired me, to want to do a poppy project for Port Perry.”

Ms. Runnells began seriously planning the initiative in November of 2025, approaching Scugog Township Council in March, with her vision of using the exterior of the municipal office as the location for the installation. The idea received enthusiastic support and quickly developed into a collaborative undertaking.

Crocheted and knitted poppies arrived from throughout Scugog, as well as Uxbridge, Oshawa, and England. Ms. Runnells reached out to local crafting groups, churches, businesses and organizations, spreading the word through newspaper coverage, presentations and word of mouth.

Among those who participated were: members of the Wednesday morning crafters group, at the Latcham Centre; participants connected with Never Enough Wool; and volunteers from Canterbury Common, West Shore, Port Perry Villa and the local Chamber of Commerce.

Ms. Runnells estimates she crocheted hundreds of poppies herself, but assembling the installation required considerable volunteer effort.

Once collected, the poppies were attached to baseball netting, using zip ties, with volunteers gathering throughout the summer, at locations including the Royal Canadian Legion and Scugog Library. The installation was assembled in six separate panels. A small group of dedicated volunteers, affectionately called her “quality control ladies,” carefully inspected each panel, to ensure the poppies were securely attached and the finished display was properly prepared.

The final installation also required assistance from township staff, who helped assess the building's ability to support the display and determine a safe installation method. The township arranged for Landon's Tree Service to assist with lifting the panels into position. Following Remembrance Day, the panels will be carefully removed and taken to the Park Bridge site on Scugog Island, where a community room has been generously made available to allow the crocheted and knitted poppies to dry before being packed away for storage.

The intention is to bring the installation back next year, continuing a project designed to become part of Port Perry's annual remembrance observances.

For Ms. Runnells, the finished display represents much more than an individual undertaking. It is a testament to what can happen when people share a common purpose.

“It was my idea and I wanted to do it, but it was the community which did it for me,” she said. “People stepped up and helped out by saying, ‘What do you need us to do?’”

Describing the initiative as a labour of love, Ms. Runnells said the generosity, time and commitment of volunteers made it possible to turn her vision into reality.

The Poppy Project stands as a colourful reminder of remembrance and the importance of honouring the sacrifices made by generations of Canadians.