---
title: "Vancouver elementary students plant 500 handmade poppies at City Hall for Remembrance Day"
description: "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."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/news/maple-grove-elementary-city-hall-poppies-november-2026"
last_updated: "2026-11-11T19:16:24.159Z"
---

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.

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