The Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 423 (Ontario) Poppy Fund is a nonprofit organization affiliated with The Royal Canadian Legion, a national veterans service organization in Canada. The Branch No. 423 is located in Ontario and operates under the business registration number 891610461RR0001.

Overview

The Branch 423 Poppy Fund is part of The Royal Canadian Legion’s broader Poppy Campaign, an annual initiative to honor and support Canadian Armed Forces veterans and their families. Inspired by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae’s poem In Flanders Fields, the poppy flower has been adopted by The Royal Canadian Legion as a sacred symbol of remembrance since 1921. Each year, from the last Friday of October until November 11 (Remembrance Day), Legion branches across Canada, including Branch No. 423, distribute poppies and accept donations to the Poppy Fund.

Purpose and Activities

The primary purpose of the Branch 423 Poppy Fund is to collect and manage donations aimed at providing financial assistance and benevolent support to Canadian veterans, serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and their families who are in need. The funds received are held in trust and strictly controlled, with local branch executives accountable for their management and required to report the results of the campaign to the community.

Donations to the Poppy Fund support a variety of programs and services, including:

• Financial aid to veterans and their dependents
• Grants and emergency relief
• Youth education and bursaries
• Support for remembrance activities and community engagement

The Poppy Fund is sustained through local fundraising efforts and memorial donations, often made in honour of veterans or loved ones.

Community Role and Governance

Branch No. 423 is run by local volunteers who organize and conduct the Poppy Campaign at the community level. The branch ensures transparency and accountability by informing the public about the funds raised and how they are allocated. Donations to the Poppy Fund are integral to the branch’s mission to uphold remembrance and provide direct support to veterans in the Ontario region.

Membership and Support

Membership in The Royal Canadian Legion, including Branch 423, is open to any Canadian citizen or citizen of an allied nation aged 18 or older. Joining the Legion supports veterans year-round and helps sustain programs like the Poppy Fund.

Online Presence

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 423 maintains a website providing information about its activities, including details on how the public can contribute to the Poppy Fund and support veterans locally.

The Branch 423 Poppy Fund exemplifies the community-based approach of The Royal Canadian Legion's nationwide efforts to honor Canada’s veterans through remembrance and charitable support.