'Sadly, it happens every year': 2 poppy boxes stolen from Edmonton drug stores
A poppy box seen at the Norwood Legion Branch on Nov. 5, 2024. (David Ewasuk/CTV News Edmonton)
The Norwood branch of the Edmonton Legion had two of their poppy boxes stolen ahead of Remembrance Day earlier this week.
Greg Laskey, the former president of the Norwood Legion Branch, said it's an occurrence he's all too familiar with.
"Sadly, it happens every year," Laskey told CTV News Edmonton on Tuesday.
The two boxes were stolen from different Shoppers Drug Mart locations on Sunday and Monday this week. Laskey said with poppy box thefts becoming more common, organizers from the legion are looking for ways to make stealing the donation boxes more difficult to loot.
"We had talked of metal boxes and locking them up, but … the cost would be prohibitive," the former president said, adding that the electronic tap-to-donate boxes are also a viable option.
"There are (around) a thousand tap boxes that are available Canada-wide, and we have those distributed in some locations in the city," Laskey said. "Sadly, there's more locations that could use the tap boxes than we have boxes available."
According to Laskey, the Kingsway Legion Branch has 20 to 25 tap boxes available to distribute around the city.
There are even digital alternatives that support veterans.
"I've seen on Facebook, I think it's mypoppy.ca, you can have a virtual or digital poppy on your particular page and make a small donation that way."
Laskey said the two drug stores sent surveillance footage of the thefts to police adding he's "hopeful they are being investigated."
With files from CTV News Edmonton's David Ewasuk.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Tensions rising between Canada Post, union as strike nears four-week mark
Canada Post and the union representing postal workers are in a war of words as a countrywide strike enters its 27th day.
BoC widely expected to cut interest rates today, odds leaning toward half-point cut
The Bank of Canada is set to make its final interest rate announcement of the year this morning.
Conservatives still in majority territory, despite Liberal affordability measures: Nanos
The Liberals' promise of a temporary GST break and $250 rebate cheques haven't benefited Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his minority government when it comes to public support, according to Nanos Research data.
Luigi Mangione shouts as he is led into courthouse where he contests extradition to N.Y.
The suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO struggled with deputies and shouted Tuesday while arriving for a court appearance in Pennsylvania, a day after he was arrested at a McDonald's and charged with murder.
What financial experts wish you knew about divorce
Divorce is a major financial reset, yet also one of the worst times to make a lot of important decisions, according to financial experts.
'They thought he wasn't making it': B.C. soccer star's family on his shocking shooting — and remarkable recovery
Born and raised in Metro Vancouver, Nathan Demian was living his dream playing soccer for top-ranked Ohio State University, when he was shot during a post-game pizza run with his brother Saturday night.
MPs approve $21.6B in supplementary spending; Conservatives vote against
Parliament has approved $21.6 billion in government spending, in a late Tuesday vote in the House of Commons.
Alex Jones keeps Infowars for now after judge rejects The Onion's winning auction bid
A U.S. federal judge in Texas rejected the auction sale of Alex Jones' Infowars to The Onion satirical news outlet, criticizing the bidding for the conspiracy theory platform as flawed as well as how much money families of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary shooting stood to receive.
A Lebanese man who spent 32 years in Syrian prisons is welcomed home
Suheil Hamwi spent 32 years in a Syrian prison, and now, after an offensive by insurgents that toppled the government of Bashar Assad, he's finally returned to his home in Lebanon.
Calgary
-
Woman on life support after assault on N.E. Calgary pathway; police seek suspect
The search is on for a suspect in a vicious assault in Calgary's northeast that has left a woman on life support.
-
Four current Calgary councillors make up latest municipal political party
Calgary has another political party at the municipal level, with four sitting councillors already signed up under its banner ahead of next year's election.
-
9-year-old girl taken along with stolen vehicle in McKenzie Lake, then left in Sundance
A nine-year-old girl is safe after she was taken on Monday night in her father's vehicle, which was later abandoned by the suspect.
Lethbridge
-
Advance voting begins for Lethbridge-West byelection
Plenty of voters were at the University Drive Alliance Church in Lethbridge on Tuesday to take advantage of advance voting for the Lethbridge-West byelection.
-
Charges laid after drugs, weapons seized from multiple southern Alberta homes
Four people are facing charges after drugs and weapons were seized from multiple southern Alberta homes as part of a trafficking investigation late last month.
-
Lethbridge Hurricanes drop off donations at Chinook Regional Hospital
Members of the Lethbridge Hurricanes visited the Chinook Regional Hospital on Monday to help deliver thousands of teddy bears collected during Friday's game against the Medicine Hat Tigers.
Saskatoon
-
'A pretty big hit': Sask. gun store loses $40K in inventory, following federal gun ban
About $40,000 worth of guns have been removed from a Saskatoon store, following the latest federal ban.
-
Province hopes legislative changes will cut long waitlists for subsidized childcare
The province is making legislative changes in hopes of build additional capacity for the federally-subsidized $10 a day childcare spaces across Saskatchewan.
-
Saskatoon's new downtown shelter is running $360K over budget
The emergency shelter planned for downtown Saskatoon has come in over budget.
Regina
-
'Creatively incredible': Regina raised talent featured in 'Wicked' film
A background dancer from Saskatchewan was featured in the movie adaptation of Wicked, which has seen significant success at the box office.
-
'A nightmare': Sask. family voices concerns over state of public long-term care homes
A Saskatchewan family's experience with a public long-term care home is raising the alarm on the “unlivable” conditions faced by some seniors in the province.
-
Province hopes legislative changes will cut long waitlists for subsidized childcare
The province is making legislative changes in hopes of build additional capacity for the federally-subsidized $10 a day childcare spaces across Saskatchewan.
Vancouver
-
Vancouver city council approves 2025 budget with 3.9% property tax increase
Vancouver city council has finalized its 2025 budget, approving a 3.9 per cent property tax hike.
-
Imposter nurse who pleaded guilty apologizes at B.C. sentencing hearing
A woman who passed herself off as a nurse and fraudulently treated almost 1,000 patients in health-care settings in Metro Vancouver and southern Vancouver Island delivered a tearful apology on the final day of her sentencing hearing at B.C. Supreme Court.
-
New Vancouver mom temporarily discharged from hospital to see Taylor Swift concert
A Vancouver woman didn’t let an emergency C-section keep her from Saturday’s Taylor Swift concert.
Vancouver Island
-
Imposter nurse who pleaded guilty apologizes at B.C. sentencing hearing
A woman who passed herself off as a nurse and fraudulently treated almost 1,000 patients in health-care settings in Metro Vancouver and southern Vancouver Island delivered a tearful apology on the final day of her sentencing hearing at B.C. Supreme Court.
-
Suspects sought in syringe attack on city worker in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties are investigating after a 58-year-old man was reportedly stabbed with syringes on Tuesday morning at a park in Nanaimo, B.C.
-
New Vancouver mom temporarily discharged from hospital to see Taylor Swift concert
A Vancouver woman didn’t let an emergency C-section keep her from Saturday’s Taylor Swift concert.
Toronto
-
BREAKINGBREAKING TTC service on Line 1 resumes
Service on TTC’s Line 1 is back after a signal issue Monday morning stopped trains across the entire route.
-
Pedestrian struck by TTC bus in Toronto’s west end dies in hospital
A pedestrian has died in hospital after they were struck by a TTC bus in the city’s west end, Toronto police say.
-
No injuries reported after gunshots fired inside Etobicoke high school, 2 suspects outstanding
Toronto police are searching for two suspects after gunshots were fired inside an Etobicoke high school late Tuesday afternoon.
Montreal
-
Banning prayer in public: legal experts sound alarm on Legault's threat to use notwithstanding clause
Legal experts say the increasing tendency of provincial premiers to use the notwithstanding clause is a worrying trend that disregards the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
-
External audit confirms 'careless' spending by Hampstead's former director general
The Montreal municipality of Hampstead had 'major financial management and control deficiencies' that led to 'abusive credit card' spending by the town's former director general over a five-year period, an external audit has confirmed.
-
WEATHER
WEATHER Montreal under rainfall, freezing rain warnings
Southern Quebec could see a messy mix of rain and freezing rain beginning Tuesday night.
Atlantic
-
Schools closed in northwestern N.B., additional weather alerts issued ahead of Thursday storm
Freezing rain has closed schools in parts of New Brunswick Wednesday, while additional weather alerts have been issued ahead of a developing storm that will bring rain and strong winds to the Maritimes Thursday.
-
Tensions rising between Canada Post, union as strike nears four-week mark
Canada Post and the union representing postal workers are in a war of words as a countrywide strike enters its 27th day.
-
N.B. town seeks to limit the number of cats, dogs in homes
The Town of Shediac, N.B., is proposing a bylaw that would limit the number of cats and dogs in homes.
Winnipeg
-
'Same problems over and over': 2024 the worst year for vacant house fires in Winnipeg, expected to get worse
2024 has been the worst year on record for vacant building fires in Winnipeg
-
Nurses union worried about Manitoba health-care cuts
The union representing nurses in Manitoba said a recent government directive to cut costs could have an impact on patient care in the province.
-
Extreme cold warning issued in parts of southwestern Manitoba
The extreme cold is starting to settle in parts of Manitoba.
Ottawa
-
RAINFALL WARNING, FOG ADVISORYRAINFALL WARNING, FOG ADVISORY Fog, 10-15 mm of rain in the forecast for Ottawa today
It will be a foggy and rainy day in Ottawa, before snow returns to the national capital region tonight and on Thursday. Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning and a fog advisory for Ottawa and most of eastern Ontario.
-
NEW THIS MORNING
NEW THIS MORNING Council to vote on final $5B City of Ottawa budget today
Council will vote on the final 2025 City of Ottawa budget on Wednesday and residents can expect to pay more in taxes next year.
-
Ottawa Senators bring holiday cheer to kids at CHEO
The Ottawa Senators brought smiles to children and families at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) during their annual holiday visit.
Northern Ontario
-
Doctor shortage crisis turning into a catastrophe in the north: OMA
Northern Ontario doctors are calling on the province to immediately address an acute doctor shortage in northern Ontario.
-
Giant Santas pop up in Sudbury neighbourhood
On Sudbury’s McNaughton Street near Bell Park, more than a dozen large, inflatable Santas have popped up.
-
Northern Ont. man on probation charged with intimate partner violence, firearms offences
New details have emerged about a police standoff in northern Ontario that sent a school and day care into lockdown last month after police lay intimate partner violence-related charges.
Barrie
-
'Something wicked this way comes': twice
Environment Canada issues two dire weather warnings for our region.
-
Central Ont. auxiliary police officer credited with saving child's life at Santa parade
An auxiliary South Simcoe police officer is credited with saving a child’s life during the Innisfil Santa Parade last month.
-
Bradford man busted on two counts of child pornography: OPP
Police executed a search warrant on December 4 at home in Bradford West Gwillimbury.
Kitchener
-
Business director of Dutchie’s pleads guilty to Employment Standards Act offences
The business director of Dutchie’s Fresh Market, a Waterloo Region-based grocer, has pleaded guilty to more than a dozen offences.
-
Waterloo Region mistakenly applied $13.7M discount to Amazon build in Blair
The Region of Waterloo will not be able to demand $13.7 million from a developer after they said a discount was mistakenly issued for the development of an Amazon fulfillment centre.
-
Petition seeks to save U of G greenhouse from demolition
The fate of a historic greenhouse on the University of Guelph campus hangs in the balance.
London
-
More snow on the way, with as much as 20cm expected
More snow is expected to roll through the region this afternoon, and it’s coming out swinging.
-
Councillor McAlister claims his ward 'got shafted' by the rest of London after storming out of debate
An unexpectedly tense debate about adjusting London’s electoral boundaries saw Councillor Hadleigh McAlister leave mid-meeting and claim his ward is being carved up to satisfy the rest of London.
-
One person killed in two vehicle collision east of Thamesford
On Tuesday, Dec. 10 at approximately 11:10 a.m., police say that a two vehicle collision occurred on Highway 2 in Zorra Township between 31st Line and 33nd Line.
Windsor
-
Parents, educators protest GECDSB program cuts
Educators and parents gathered outside the Greater Essex County District School Board office on Tuesday evening protesting program cuts.
-
Charges dropped, pleas accepted, trial confirmed in murder of UWindsor student on Walpole Island
Warning: This article contains details that some readers may find disturbing. Reader’s discretion is advised.
-
Firefighters stressing safety with lithium-ion batteries
Lakeshore firefighters are stressing the importance of safety with and around lithium-ion batteries this holiday season.
