Remember Together: Stories Behind the Poppy
This annual online programme reaches approximately 15,000 children from nearly 200 schools on both sides of the Atlantic and is free for schools to participate.
The purpose of Remember Together: Stories Behind the Poppy is to provide school-age children with the opportunity to take part in a memorable commemorative event alongside other schools. The programme fosters excitement by connecting schools from different countries and helps students gain a deeper understanding of the ties of friendship between the UK and Canada, while commemorating the sacrifices made in both world wars.
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John McCrae 150
In 2022, the Maple Leaf Trust partnered with Big Ideas to host a free digital event commemorating the 150th anniversary of Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae’s birth. The programme aimed to raise awareness of how McCrae wrote one of the world’s most famous poems, In Flanders Fields, and how it inspired the poppy as a lasting symbol of remembrance.
The event was a success, fostering authentic connections between young people in the UK and Canada by engaging them in active and creative acts of commemoration.
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Indigenous Veterans
Following the success of the 2022 event, the Maple Leaf Trust once again partnered with Big Ideas to deliver a digital event focused on remembrance. The 2023 event honoured Indigenous Veterans Day, recognising the service and sacrifice of Canada’s Indigenous community during the First World War. Approximately 4,000 Indigenous men and women served during the conflict, often taking on roles that utilised their hunting skills, such as snipers, scouts, and ‘code talkers’ who translated military messages into Cree.
The event focused on individual stories, encouraging participants to reflect on the discrimination faced by Canada’s Indigenous community during their service and their subsequent advocacy for respect and equality.
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D-Day Landing
In 2024, the world commemorated 80 years since the Normandy Landings on 6 June 1944. To mark this significant anniversary, the Maple Leaf Trust continued its partnership with Big Ideas to deliver another edition of Stories Behind the Poppy, exploring the role of the Canadian Armed Forces on D-Day.
This year’s theme provides an opportunity to honour and delve into the stories of Canadian veterans who not only played a pivotal role in the Allied victory but also chose to remain in the UK after the war. These veterans were among those the Maple Leaf Trust was originally established to support, making this commemoration especially poignant and meaningful.