Wearing white poppies bothers some Sudbury residents

Sudburians are divided over the white poppies that are cropping up on lapels across the country.

Last week,controversy started over campaigns across Canada to wear white poppies for Remembrance Day. The campaignwas started by students at the University of Ottawa.

The students have argued that the white flowers are meant to signify peace, but some veteran groups say the white poppies are disrespectful and hurt their fundraisingefforts.

Sudbury resident Kathy Thor-Steinson said she's torn on the issue.

"I haven't seen the white poppies in Sudbury, but I have seen them on television, she said.

It's not that I'm disagreement with what they stand for. I think it takes away from the significance of the poppy and remembering our fallen soldiers."

Thor-Steinson said she would support the white poppies being if they were worn on a different day of the year.

White poppies hard to find

Janelle Grazietti said shes having trouble finding a white poppy in Sudbury.

Grazietti, a former cadet, said she doesn't like what the red ones signify.

"I remember in elementary school, we watched a violent video, and towards the end they had a field of red poppies, she said. So the red poppies were associated with the violence."

Veterans groups across the country have said the white poppy is unnecessary and even offensive.

Sudbury resident Donna Heldrich agrees with them.

The meaning of the red poppies, the poppies in Flanders Field. The white has nothing to do with that, it's taking away the significance of it, she said. It's a change for no reason."

Heldrich added she might support the white poppy, if people wore it on a different day.