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A Toronto woman is selling handmade poppies this Remembrance Day season to raise money for her local Royal Canadian Legion branch — and a viral TikTok video has made keeping up with orders a full-time challenge.
A Personal Connection to the Poppy Fund
Margot Rockett creates what she calls “door poppies” — large, wreath-style poppies designed to hang on doors, walls, and windows. Her father served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. In his final years, he lived at the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre in Toronto.
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“They took such good care of him and I really wanted to give back to the Poppy Fund and to the Legion,” Rockett told Global News. That sense of gratitude became the driving force behind her craft.
Born During the Pandemic
Rockett developed the door poppy during the pandemic. She adapted a flower design she had already been making and transformed it into something bolder. “I just sort of tweaked a flower I made before and I made the door poppy,” she said.
Each poppy sells for $10 and carries official Legion licensing. Rockett takes that responsibility seriously. “It’s a very rigid, strict policy because it is a trademarked image, and I respect that because they have to protect the poppy,” she said. All proceeds go directly to her Legion branch at Coxwell and Gerrard in Toronto, where the funds support local veterans and their families.
A Significant Boost for the Local Legion
Legion officials say Rockett’s contribution has made a real difference. Shelley Lyons, vice-president at the Coxwell and Gerrard Legion branch, praised the initiative when speaking to Global News. “When Margot approached us a couple years ago, I thought it was pretty amazing,” Lyons said. “All her proceeds were going to come to this branch specifically for our poppy campaign — it’s a huge income for us.”
However, Lyons also expressed concern about a broader trend. She described it as “disheartening” to see fewer people wearing poppies around Remembrance Day. She suggested that as the First and Second World Wars fade further into history, a lack of education and fading memory could be contributing factors. “It always makes me smile when I see someone wearing it,” she added.
Demand Surges After Going Viral
After Rockett’s door poppies gained attention on TikTok, demand surged sharply. She is now working around the clock to fill orders. Despite the pressure, she says she has no complaints. “It’s a bigger, bolder way to say I remember,” she told Global News.
For Rockett, the effort carries deep personal meaning. She believes her late father would approve. “I think if my dad were here, he’d be really proud,” she said.
