The History in Waterloo Region

The History of The Poppy Fund shows the first Poppy Committee meeting, operated by The Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 50 was held on December 19th, 1933; where nominations for Chairman took place. 

By 1949 the Poppy Committee consisted of only the Royal Canadian Legions in the area, namely; Kitchener Branch No. 50, and the Polish Veterans Branch No. 412; along with the Army, Navy and Air Force Association Unit #247. 

The Royal Canadian Legion Waterloo Branch No. 530 is found to have participated in 1953.  By 1954 it was moved that all three Branches hold their meetings together.  The first mention of a Kitchener-Waterloo Poppy Fund Committee was in January 1955. 

In 1961 the K-W Wing #404 of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association and the K-W Naval Association were invited to join the Committee.  The Korea Veterans Association Unit #52 was welcomed in June 1993.  After the three Legion Branches and the Veterans Service Organizations amalgamated the Kitchener-Waterloo Poppy Fund grew large enough to have its own quarters. 

On April 16th, 1982 it moved to a location on Regina Street in Waterloo.  A small little red brick house beside The Royal Canadian Legion Waterloo Branch 530.  It was affectionately referred to as ‘the Poppy House’.

The Poppy House on Regina Street was closed permanently on June 30, 2015.

After 33 years on Regina Street North in Waterloo ‘the Poppy House’ moved to an office inside the new home of the Royal Canadian Legion Waterloo Branch No. 530 located at 316 Marsland Drive in Waterloo. 

It was noted that the old Poppy House was completely demolished on April 2016.

The end of an era! 

The Royal Canadian Legion Waterloo Branch No. 530 and the K-W Poppy Fund officially had their Grand Opening on January 17, 2016.