Seeds of Support

Seeds of Support

An innovative Fanshawe initiative is bringing together poppies and puppies.

Fanshawe donated more than $4,800 raised from The Fanshawe Poppy Project to The Royal Canadian Legion with veteran service dogs in attendance.

The Fanshawe Poppy Project is an educational collaboration between the College, the Royal Canadian Legion, London area schools and beyond. The initiative encourages students to craft poppies from seed paper—an eco-friendly twist on the traditional symbol of remembrance.

The funds generated from the sale of these poppy kits were directed toward a crucial cause: providing service dogs for Canadian veterans. These dogs offer essential support and companionship, profoundly impacting the lives of those who have served.

According to a Veterans Affairs Canada Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Service Dog study, veterans with PTSD reported positive impacts after acquiring their service dog. This includes decreased nightmares, improved sleep, fewer depressive symptoms and more social integration in the community.

“The Royal Canadian Legion is proud to be partnered with Fanshawe College and The Fanshawe Poppy Project,” says Brian Harris, provincial poppy chair for The Royal Canadian Legion, Ontario Provincial Command. “The poppy image symbolizes the sacrifice of the Canadians who paid the supreme price, and its image echoes the now famous words by Canadian military surgeon Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae’s poem In Flanders Fields . This project is essential in assisting us in educating our youth of the importance of remembrance. We are grateful for this donation to The Royal Canadian Legion’s Operation Service Dogs.”

Learn more about The Poppy Project.