Poppy 2.0: the symbol of Remembrance Day gets a makeover – National

Canadians wearing poppies on their backs can offer a new way to support Canada's Veterans on Remembrance Day.

The Royal Canadian Legion will offer for the first time what they describe as "digital poppies".

READ MORE: Why white poppies – supposed to be a symbol of peace – are so controversial

Nujma Bond, who works for the Legion, told Global News that digital poppies were meant to be complementary to traditional poppies.

"Essentially, we wanted to give Canadians another option, another way to donate to the poppy campaign," she said.

About 20 million pins will be distributed this year.

WATCH: Canada's poppy commemorating Remembrance Day goes digital

How does poppy work?

The digital poppy is now available online for Canadians on the Legion website and on mypoppy.ca.

After making a donation, Canadians have access to a poppy, which they can post on social media sites such as Facebook.

READ MORE: No Stone Left Alone Expands in Canada on Remembrance Day

They may also choose to keep it anonymous or to dedicate the poppy to a specific person.

Like traditional poppies, funding will go to the Legion Poppy Campaign, which funds many services for veterans.

"The funds are used for various types of financial badistance and support to veterans, including food and heating expenses, medical equipment and the work of branch service agents across the country, who represent free veterans and help them get help. they need, "Bond explained.

The Legion has posted photos of what poppies will look like, including examples of digital poppies created by prominent Canadians, such as author Margaret Atwood.

Atwood dedicated his to brig.-gen. T. G. Gibson.

"I dedicate my digital poppy to Brigadier General T.G. Gibson, the father of my wife Graeme," she wrote in her tribute message. "He fought during the Second World War in Italy, then in Holland and Germany."

Why go online?

Bond explained that offering an online version of poppies is simply a new way to reach Canadians.

"That's how the world goes," said Bond. "We wanted to reach people who might not be carrying as much money as before."

READ MORE: What to do or not with the Remembrance Day poppy

But she noted that the Legion is waiting for a similar poppy label to be followed online, particularly with respect to comments and tributes.

"We expect people to show a common respect that they would use to talk about our veterans," Bond said.

Connect with young people

Another reason to make poppy digital is connecting with young Canadians, who, Bond explained, may not have the same war experience as the previous generation when it comes to world wars.

But she noted that poppies are meant to honor veterans and victims of other wars.

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"There has been a lot of conflict since, whether in Afghanistan or Bosnia," she said. "Veterans of these conflicts should be reminded in the same way."

She added that she hoped digital poppies could help "get young Canadians thinking about all the conflicts and what they mean for our country."

Should young people be more involved?

There was a debate around the increased participation of young Canadians in Remembrance Day, but a survey revealed that traditions do not go out.

A survey conducted by Ipsos in 2017 on behalf of Historica Canada revealed that the millennia were gradually generating renewed interest in Remembrance Day ceremonies.

It shows that 29% of respondents planned to attend a ceremony in honor of soldiers who died last year, which represents an increase of three percentage points over 2016 and a back to the peaks set in 2015.

WATCH: Thousands of people attend Remembrance Day ceremonies 2017

37% of millennials surveyed planned to attend a ceremony well before the 29% of baby boomers over 55 questioned.

Historica Executive Director Anthony Wilson-Smith said that veterans telling the horrors of war in person in Canadian schools or sharing their stories in an online archive had the chance to make a good impression on a demographic group often poorly known.

"We are more aware of our place in the world and this translates into a greater appreciation of sacrifice in a global context," he said.

– With records from the Canadian press