Why the Poppy Endures: The Forgotten Origins of a Canadian Symbol
Description
Every November, red poppies appear on lapels across Canada — but few remember where the tradition came from or why it still matters. Dr. Stacey Barker from the Canadian War Museum shares the powerful, sometimes overlooked history behind this iconic symbol.
From muddy trenches of the First World War to grassroots campaigns by women like Lillian Freeman, discover how a wildflower became a nation’s most enduring tribute to sacrifice and remembrance. This episode explores the poppy’s poetic roots, its transformation through time, and the quiet power it holds today — even as its presence fades.
Learn what the poppy really symbolizes, why it’s more than a flower, and how remembrance still shapes identity in Canada.
GUEST:
Dr. Stacey Barker
@warmuseum
warmuseum.ca




