This rule means Vernon’s poppy crosswalk can’t go ahead

VERNON – A proposed poppy crosswalk in Vernon is a no-go due to a little known rule.

Vernon Legion president Bill Balcaen says the veteran’s crosswalk violates a law in the Royal Canadian Legion’s Poppy Manual.

According to the manual, the poppy symbol cannot be positioned in a way that would see it ‘trod upon.’

Balcaen says the local legion fully supported the crosswalk, which would likely have been installed by Cenotaph Park, up until a member discovered the rule.

“Once we got looking into it, we realized we couldn’t go forward with it,” Balcaen says.

The city recently approved the poppy crosswalk and a local artist, Amanda Shatzko, was brought on as the lead artist.

While it’s the end of the road for the poppy crosswalk, there may be another way to honour those who fought in the war.

Balcaen says preliminary discussions are underway with the city to pursue a different type of installation to commemorate veterans. The specific details, however, are being kept under wraps until they know for sure that it doesn’t break any rules.

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