Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Tea 2026
This year the annual Poppy Tea hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion took place at Perley Health on Thursday October 22nd. Each year this gathering happens shortly before the launch of the Legion's Poppy Campaign. Members of the Legion present our Veteran residents with the First Poppy to thank them for their service and honour the sacrifices they have made.
Each year during this important event we honour the oldest male and female Veteran living at Perley Health. This year we had the privilege of honouring two extraordinary individuals. Armand Savoie, Canadian Air Force Veteran, age 107, and Lucille Lane, Canadian Navy Veteran, age 104.
Armand Savoie, 107
Armand Savoie is the oldest Veteran living at Perley Health. At 107 years of age, Armand represents a remarkable generation of Canadians whose courage, sacrifice, and service helped shape the world we know today.
Armand enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force at the age of 22 and served for four and a half years with 425 Squadron, the Alouettes, as an aircraft mechanic. During the Second World War, his work focused on maintaining and repairing the Avro Lancaster, one of the most important aircraft of the Allied war effort.
Following the war, Armand returned home and began the next chapter of his life. He went on to build a successful career with the Royal Canadian Mint, where he worked as a gold refiner until his retirement at the age of 64.
Beyond his service and professional accomplishments, Armand's life has been defined by devotion to family. He shared 74 wonderful years of marriage with his beloved wife, Deloris Hamel, and together they raised five children: four daughters and one son.
Armand's extraordinary life is a testament to service, perseverance, commitment, and love. On behalf of everyone gathered here tonight, we thank him for his contributions to Canada, for his sacrifices in service to our country, and for the example he continues to set for future generations.
Lucille Lane, 104
Born in Shawville, Quebec, in 1922, Lu joined the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service in Halifax at the age of 22. Serving in the Navy's Signals Branch, she carried out highly important work decoding messages from ships operating in the North Atlantic. Her efforts played a vital role in maintaining communications and supporting Allied operations.
After three years of military service, Lu transitioned to another equally meaningful role, raising her three children and building a family. Together with her husband, a marine engineer, she shared nearly 70 years of marriage.
Today, we recognize not only Lu's service, but also a life marked by dedication to family, community, and her country. We thank her for her contributions, her sacrifice, and the example she continues to set for future generations.
