The poppy—the red flower with the black centre—worn on November 11 as a sign of respect and remembrance of our fallen troops and those who fought for our freedom.

The poppy came about as a symbol after it was featured in

Canadian soldier John McCrae’s poem, In Flanders Fields. McCrae wrote the poem in 1915 after the death of a fellow soldier in the First World War, and he wrote about the red poppy because it grew prevalent in the fields and cemeteries around France and Belgium where soldiers were laid to rest.

On July 5, 1921, the red poppy was officially adopted as the “Flower of Remembrance” by The Royal Canadian Legion. In 1922 lapel poppies were made and sold as a symbol to honor and remember war veterans—worn on the left and closest to the heart. The sales from poppies were meant to provide disabled veterans with an income, but since have been taken over by the Legion who has them manufactured by a private firm.

Today, on this remembrance day, as I look around the MFX Partners offices, I see many of my colleagues wearing traditional red lapel poppies as symbols of their respect and remembrance. However, as a person who works in an industry immersed in the design of logos, symbols and the meanings behind those, I have to question why the symbol of the poppy has suffered so much anger and controversy—just this week!

Here’s what’s been going on…

In 1933 the Co-operative Women’s Guild introduced their White Peace Poppy to symbolize hope for the end of wars. Understandably, various anti-war groups and activists embraced the white poppy. Just this past week, Island Peace Committee from Charlottetown, PEI is facing a potential lawsuit from the Royal Canadian Legion for distributing the white poppies at a local farmer’s market.

Purple poppies surfaced, just yesterday, as a symbol to commemorate animals used as messengers, scouts, rescuers, and those lost in battle by Animal Aid. However, the group has made it very clear that purple poppies should be worn alongside the traditional red poppy.

On November 8, just three days ago, students from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design put their new and “improved” red poppy on display. This poppy, although very similar to the traditional poppy, is made with paper that contains seeds so it can be planted in a garden after Remembrance Day as a living symbol of respect. And perhaps a little bit of design thinking in the works, this poppy solved the slipping straight pin issue—it has a pin with a back that won’t fall. The students’ poppy is not for sale, and they’ve made it very clear that their only goal was to redesign the poppy in a respectful way.

You can read more about poppy controversy at Global TV.

Today, as you reflect and remember on how lucky we truly are to be Canadian, lest you forget that a poppy worn on a left lapel or drawn by an elementary school student or grown in a garden is a symbol of respect. Remember the deeper meaning, regardless of the color, and be thankful that we have the right to choose.