Vancouver elementary students plant 500 handmade poppies at City Hall for Remembrance Day
Maple Grove Elementary students added 500 handcrafted poppies to the Poppy and Feather Project display at Vancouver City Hall, which has grown to more than 6,000 pieces since 2012.
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About 500 handmade poppies from students at Maple Grove Elementary are now planted on the lawn in front of Vancouver City Hall. The installation is part of the annual Poppy and Feather Project, which teacher Chelsea Miller has organized since it began in 2012, CityNews Vancouver reported on Wednesday.
The display has grown each year. More than 6,000 handcrafted pieces now make up the installation, with students in grades four, five and six adding about 500 new poppies each autumn.
What the display holds
Red poppies, purple poppies, white poppies, and red and orange feathers all carry different meanings, as students explained to CityNews Vancouver.
Red poppies represent people who fought in war. Purple poppies represent animals. White poppies represent hope for a peaceful world. Red and orange feathers represent Indigenous veterans.
Miller told CityNews Vancouver that the poppies are made from previously enjoyed tablecloths. Each piece is handmade by the students before the installation.
Why students take part
For students in grades four, five and six at Maple Grove Elementary, the project is also a chance to learn about Canada's military history from the First World War onward.
One student, Nava, told CityNews Vancouver that the project carries personal meaning. Nava's family came to Canada from Iran.
"We moved here because there was war, and we thought it would be safer here," Nava said. "I love that we're safe here."
Student Nolan described the display as being about "making this country a better place and more peaceful."
Visiting the display
The poppies are on the lawn at Vancouver City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue. They will be taken down on Thursday, November 12, the day after Remembrance Day, and carefully packed away until next year, CityNews Vancouver reported. Wednesday is the last full day to see this year's installation. The lawn is publicly accessible with no admission required.
Questions this story answers
What is the Poppy and Feather Project at Vancouver City Hall?
The Poppy and Feather Project is an annual installation on the lawn of Vancouver City Hall. Students from Maple Grove Elementary make and plant handcrafted poppies each year as a tribute to those who served in Canada's military. The project was started in 2012, and the display has grown to more than 6,000 pieces, according to CityNews Vancouver.
Who organizes the City Hall poppies display in Vancouver?
The Poppy and Feather Project is organized by Chelsea Miller, a teacher at Maple Grove Elementary in Vancouver. Students in grades four, five and six take part in making the poppies, which are crafted from previously enjoyed tablecloths, according to CityNews Vancouver.
How many poppies are at Vancouver City Hall for Remembrance Day 2026?
The display now holds more than 6,000 handcrafted pieces. Each year, students from Maple Grove Elementary add about 500 new poppies, according to CityNews Vancouver's report on November 11, 2026. The project has been running since 2012.
What do the different colours of poppies at Vancouver City Hall mean?
According to students interviewed by CityNews Vancouver: the red poppies represent people who fought in the war, the purple poppies represent animals involved in the war, and the white poppies represent hope for peace. Red and orange feathers woven through the display represent Indigenous veterans.
When will the City Hall poppies display come down?
The Poppy and Feather Project display at Vancouver City Hall will be taken down the day after Remembrance Day, which is Thursday, November 12, 2026, according to CityNews Vancouver. After it is removed, the poppies are carefully packed away until next year.
What materials are the City Hall poppies made from?
The handcrafted poppies in the Poppy and Feather Project at Vancouver City Hall are made from previously enjoyed tablecloths, according to Maple Grove Elementary teacher Chelsea Miller, as reported by CityNews Vancouver on November 11, 2026. Each piece is made by students in grades four, five and six.
Can residents visit the Poppy and Feather Project at Vancouver City Hall?
The display is on the lawn in front of Vancouver City Hall at 453 West 12th Avenue. The poppies are visible outside. The installation will be taken down on November 12, 2026, the day after Remembrance Day, so Wednesday, November 11 is the last full day to see this year's display.
What does Remembrance Day mean to students who took part in the Poppy and Feather Project?
CityNews Vancouver spoke with students at the display. One student, Nava, who came to Canada from Iran, said: 'We moved here because there was war, and we thought it would be safer here.' Another student, Nolan, said making the poppies is about 'making this country a better place and more peaceful.' Students described the display as a way to show care for those who died in war.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- CityNews Vancouver: Students adorns Vancouver City Hall with handcrafted poppiesvancouver.citynews.ca
- Vancouver City Hall address and locationvancouver.ca
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