City ready for celebration of First World War centennial, honours local origins of poppy symbolism

THUNDER BAY -- Thunder Bay will show it's the city of the poppy over the next few years as it commemorates the First World War's centennial anniversary.

At the Prince Arthur Hotel in July 1921 the Great War Veterans Association, which would eventually become the Royal Canadian Legion, decided to adopt the poppy as the official symbol to remember fallen comrades.

On Wednesday morning at city hall, banners were unveiled saying Thunder Bay is the city of the poppy. IT was markes with a remembrance service complete with the colour guard, the Last Post and a reading of “In Flkanders Field”.

Those banners are already up at city hall and will be placed in several locations over he next few weeks, including Red River Road near Waverley Park and parts of May Street and Memorial Avenue, which was named in honour of veterans and at one time complete with spruce trees to server as a reminder.

"The banners will hopefully evoke some of those memories again," city clerk and commemoration committee chair John Hannam said.

Branch No. 5 Legion president Robert Cutbush said branding the city as the city of the poppy is a good way to commemorate the occasion.

"It's a great honour that Port Arthur and the city of Thunder Bay has that," he said.

The unveiling is one of many events over the next few years, including an eventual legacy walk from Hillcrest to Waverley and larger events planned for 100 th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge in 2017.