Bridgeburg businesses to remember veterans with moment of silence

Bridgeburg businesses will step outside together on November 11 at 11 a.m. for a moment of silence to honour veterans, for a first-time coordinated Remembrance Day event with the local Legion branch.

The Bridgeburg Business Improvement Area (BIA) partnered with Royal Canadian Legion Branch 71 to place 27 poppy boxes at various businesses in the downtown area. The partnership comes as the Legion faces donation shortfalls caused by reduced mail contributions due to the ongoing Canada Post strike and fewer counter displays across town.

The collaboration began when Dana Nadeau, owner of The Manic Maker and Bridgeburg BIA member, contacted the Legion directly to ensure every store that wanted a poppy box could received one. Legion Branch 71 keeps tabs on businesses in Fort Erie they deliver to but some new shops in Bridgeburg had previously missed out because of outdated contact lists.

“These days, those groups have a hard time getting people to take the boxes or put up a flyer,” Nadeau told Fort Erie Radio on Monday. “And the more community places that we can put up this stuff, the more it’ll get recognized and the more it’ll be remembered.”

Businesses will pause service and step outside during the moment of silence, encouraging patrons to do the same in remembrance of Canadian veterans. The BIA hopes the tradition will grow annually, though weather may determine whether a planned poppy mural at a crosswalk in Bridgeburg can be completed this year.

“In the world we’re in now, with security and patriotism being at the forefront of almost every conversation, these are little things we can do to show the community how much we care,” said Nadeau.

Poppy boxes in local shops remain one of the few consistent sources of donations supporting veterans’ emergency needs.

“I’ve been really happy that so many people are grabbing that opportunity while they’re here,” said Nadeau.

Nadeau’s café will also host a COPE food donation bin through the holiday season with the bin expected to be delivered next week.

“We try really hard to donate, but as a small café it’s getting harder and harder to do that. So I’m trying to find creative ways we can contribute,” she said.

After Remembrance Day, Bridgeburg will be shifting focus to their annual holiday celebrations with the Santa Claus parade planned for November 22.

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