Rotary Villas residents create poppy dress

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This article was published 10/11/2020 (1973 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A vintage wedding dress adorned with hundreds of poppies stands beside a vintage military uniform; together, they form a striking visual tribute to the spirit of Remembrance Day.

Both are part of a special Remembrance Day project created by the residents at Rotary Villas at Crocus Plains assisted living facility in Brandon, where the dress and uniform are now on display in the facility’s main dining hall.

Over several weeks, a small group of dedicated residents constructed more than 600 handmade poppies using tissue paper and felt that were then used to cover the dress.

The idea for the dress came from Rotary Villas’ wellness and recreation co-ordinator, Joyce Scantlebury. It’s among several different Remembrance Day projects she organized for residents in lieu of in-person events this year.

Most in-person Remembrance Day services have been cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic and care homes are currently under tight public safety restrictions for the same reason.

“It’s such an unfortunate thing that we can’t do our usual service … but, of course, with COVID-19 we can’t do that this year,” Scantlebury said. “I just wanted to make something special for the residents and the veterans. With the age that I work with … it certainly hits home (and) fairly close to their heart.”

Scantlebury was inspired to create the poppy dress after seeing photos of a similar project. Not only would it make for a nice display at Rotary Villas, she thought, but would also make for a good activity to keep the residents busy and engaged.

Scantlebury found the wedding dress used for the project in the discount section at a local second-hand store. The military uniform was generously lent by the Royal Canadian Artillery Museum in Shilo.

Scantlebury had a group of five dedicated volunteers she refers to as her “poppy gals” working on the project, although one member’s husband later also became involved, she added.

Rotary Villas resident Sylvia Barr is one of Scantlebury’s poppy gals. She spent hours hand making poppies out of tissue paper and felt to go on the dress.

Barr acknowledges the poppy dress may be unconventional, but she believes it fits within the many themes of Remembrance Day.

“This thing kind of focuses on a different use of the poppy. (It) kind of focuses on the elegance and simplicity and beauty of the poppy and maybe some of the more positive things that poppies could represent, like love and hope,” Barr said. “It certainly doesn’t denigrate from the other the more traditional interpretation of poppies … it’s kind of an additional interpretation.”

The project was largely kept a secret from the other residents until it was unveiled last week. So far, reactions to the project have been extremely positive, Barr said.

“We knew right from the beginning (it) would be kind of something (that) would really attract people’s attention, and it does: people are walking, and this kind of stops them in their tracks,” Barr said. “Their reaction has been very interesting and rewarding.”

While a lot of time and effort has gone into creating the poppy dress and a few other Remembrance Day-themed displays at Rotary Villas, Scantlebury said it has all been worth it for the residents she works with.

I’ve had people come up to me and thanked me for putting up all the displays with tears in their eyes. Wonderful. Just wonderful … makes me want to cry.

“That’s what I’m there for, you know, to make things special for them. That’s what I like to do.”

» eklatt@brandonsun.com

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