The Dauphin Rail Museum's Poppy Project has been going on for 6 years now, as a way to stay connected to their history of Remembrance.
Jason Gilmore, Dauphin Rail Museum President, said the Rail Museum has a storied history when it comes to Remembrance. Built in 1912, the Dauphin Train Station saw soldiers leaving for both the First and Second World Wars - some of them never making it home. He feels it's his duty to promote Remembrance, and the Poppy Project is a good way to do that, while getting community involvement too. The Poppy Project revolves around handmade poppies, either knitted or crocheted. So far, they have more than 500.
"We feel it's our duty to do events like this when it comes to Remembrance Day...even though there is a pattern to making [poppies], there is an almost individuality to each one that's made," said Gilmore.
For Gilmore, Remembrance is a lot more than just wearing poppies and promoting the day. He's been involved with the Dauphin Rail Museum for a while, and is well aware of how involved it was in the First and Second World Wars.
"That adage, if the walls could speak, you know, there were soldiers that sat here waiting to take the train to then go to Europe or whatever other conflict zones, so I think of that on a daily basis, just all those people's stories, and then unfortunately, the ones that didn't return," said Gilmore.
Most of the handmade poppies they've received have been from members of the Dauphin Active Living Centre. If you'd like to get involved with the Poppy Project, you can call the Dauphin Rail Museum at 204-202-4622.
