Banff-Airdrie MP Blake Richards is arranging meetings in Ottawa that could result in the secure Poppy Fund collection boxes being utilized across the nation.

Dan Kroffat continues to pursue his ambition to make these collection boxes a fixture across the country for Legions to raise funds for our veterans.

After the initial pilot of 50 boxes in Cochrane last year, the local Legion has ordered 20 more. Kroffat has also recently returned from Summerland, B.C. where their Legion will now be using them.

The idea is to eliminate spontaneous theft and it was inspired by Kroffat's outrage over multiple thefts, largely Calgary. The deeper he researched the issue, the more determined he was to find a solution.

Our local MP was recruited as one of the advocates of the project at the beginning and he recently met with the new Veterans Affairs minister Seamus O'Regan to arrange an one-on-one with Kroffat in Ottawa.

"We had a good conversation about it and he seems more than interested in having a meeting and hearing more about it and trying to do something that would be beneficial for the Legions," says Richards. "We haven't got a date for it yet but I suspect we'll have one soon."

Richards hopes Kroffat will also have the opportunity to demonstrate the boxes to other MPS while in Ottawa.

"We'll encourage those interested to take them back to show their Legions and explain the success Cochrane has had in increasing the donations as a result."

Richards sees value in the initiative.

"We can never do enough to support our veterans to show our respect for what they've done for our country. This is one small way and Dan has encouraged a lot of other people to be involved. I'm happy to play whatever small role that I can to help."

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Secure Poppy Collection Boxes are Drawing Attention