Remembrance Day | 5. The wearing of the Poppy

For CAF personnel in uniform

Reference:

Minutes of the National Defence Clothing and Dress Committee (NDCDC) 01/11, Paragraph 7

DHH proposed an amendment to regulations that will permit the wear of the poppy at appropriate commemorative ceremonies outside the traditional Remembrance Day period. CAF Dress Instructions will be amended to read: “The Royal Canadian Legion Poppy. The red poppy is an emblem of the RCL and is used to commemorate Canadians who died in battle. CAF members shall wear the poppy on all uniforms from the last Friday in October until Remembrance Day (November 11th) and are encouraged to wear it when attending any event whose main purpose is to commemorate Canadians who died in battle.”

Reference:

Record of Decision NDCDC 01-25 (15 May 2025) serial 3

NDCDC approved the wearing of Indigenous crafted poppies to recognize and honour the contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples while adhering to established guidelines for Remembrance Day observance. They shall be worn in the same manner as the Royal Canadian Legion Poppy. They must meet the following criteria:
1. not less than 3.8 cm and no greater than 5.1 cm in diameter;
2. poppies shall be red with black accents; and
3. poppy material is not limited to solely beads, the poppy may be made from other materials including, but not limited to, seal skin, porcupine quill, and caribou bone and other culturally significant materials.

NOTE

The wearing of the poppy with the miniature Canadian flag pin as a means of securing the poppy to the uniform instead of the provided straight pin is not authorized for any CAF uniform.