Poppy use on election signs sparks controversy for two municipal candidates
The use of a remembrance Poppy on election signs in Bradford West Gwillimbury and Newmarket has stirred controversy.
Nickolas Harper, who is vying for a council seat in Bradford and who served overseas in Afghanistan, began his campaign with a Poppy printed on the corner of his election sign.
But according to a letter from the Royal Canadian Legion, Harper's signs are an infringement of the Poppy Trademark and must be removed.
"It caught me off guard. I was shocked," said Harper on Sunday. "To stand up and have pride and show that, it meant a lot to be able come out and say, 'hey, I'm a veteran, we live in your community, we live right here.'"
The letter sent to Harper also reads that the Legion is the largest Veterans organization in Canada and are given the responsibility to preserve the Poppy symbol. By doing so, the letter said, it's ensuring that it's not used for commercial or personal gain.
Harper has since purchased stickers to cover the Poppy.
"What symbol can a veteran use to represent our collective sacrifices? There's a national day of remembrance, but we remember everyday," said Harper.
Harper wasn't the only veteran entering the political arena in central Ontario using a Poppy on their election signs.
Chris Dupee of Newmarket has been campaigning with the Poppy emblazoned on his signs as he seeks a seat in the council chambers.
"It's a direct reflection of who I am and I'm trying my hardest to introduce myself to my community," said Dupee.
The former soldier served with the Royal Canadian Regiment from Petawawa and was a LAV gunner in Afghanistan in 2008 and 2009 before joining the Joint Personnel Unit, which is the Canadian Forces arm that coordinates mental health treatment.
Now retired in Newmarket, he owns a mental health clinic for veterans.
"I do not want to take it down. The Poppy is something very important to me as well as other veterans and believe we should have a symbol that we can use and display with pride," said Dupee, who claimed he wouldn't be removing the Poppy.
In a statement to CTV News the Royal Canadian Legion explained that the Poppy is a symbol of Remembrance of Canada's Fallen and not a tool for political candidates.
"They will need to find other ways to reflect Veteran status during a political campaign," the statement read.
According to a political science professor at Kings University College, using the Poppy could be a competitive advantage.
"There's no party affiliations so candidates are looking for really clear cues for the voter and identifying yourself as a veteran would one of those cues," said Jacquetta Newman
Now with the election weeks away, both Harper and Dupee, who say they had no prior knowledge that either would use a Poppy on their signs, are urging the Legion to reconsider its rules.
"In this inclusionary world we live in toed at I think it's time to maybe have the legion revisit some of these politics of what they symbol mean and what it means to veterans," said Harper.
"The sacrificial of life, limb, mind; it's everything to me," said Dupee referring to the Poppy.
The two said regardless of the results on October 24th they will continue advocating for veterans both locally and across the country.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
How to avoid the trap of becoming 'house poor'
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
Toxic forever chemicals in drinking water: Is Canada doing enough?
As the United States sets its first national limits on toxic forever chemicals in drinking water, researchers say Canada is lagging when it comes to regulations.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Some customers steaming after McDonald's ends free hot drink sticker program
It took years for Vinnie Deluca to collect more than 400 cards worth of free McDonald's McCafe coffee, a collection that now has "zero value" after the company discontinued the program.
Biden scores endorsements from Kennedy family, looking to shore up support against Trump and RFK Jr.
U.S. President Joe Biden will accept endorsements from at least 15 members of the Kennedy political family during a campaign stop in Philadelphia on Thursday as he aims to undermine Donald Trump and marginalize the candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Where did the gold go? Crime expert weighs in on unfolding Pearson airport heist investigation
Almost 7,000 bars of pure gold were stolen from Pearson International Airport exactly one year ago during an elaborate heist, but so far only a tiny fraction of that stolen loot has been found.
When new leaders took over in ancient Maya, they didn't just bury the former royals. They burned their bodies in public
New archeological investigations in Guatemala reveal that the ancient Maya people had a ritual of burning royal human remains as a public display of political regime change.
Party's over: Coyotes play final game as Arizona franchise before move to Salt Lake City
Mullett Arena buzzed like few times in the two years since the Arizona Coyotes moved in, the fans amped for one last desert hurrah.