Here’s a window display you’ll remember (9 photos)

If you’re reflecting on Remembrance Day and in the downtown area, you’ll want to check out the display in the two front windows of Tamar’s Trends Flower Shop at 740 Queen St. E.

Last year’s Remembrance Day display at Tamar’s focused on local Second World War veteran Jens Lamour and veterans portraits by local photographer Meaghan Kent.

“This year we wanted to do another outstanding display,” said Tamar Tucker, Tamar’s Trends owner, speaking to SooToday Friday.

Tamar’s Trends employees Sandra MacKenzie Oliver and Aris Richards worked for two days on the display, which includes a long woman’s ‘gown,’ consisting of poppies made of red crepe paper (100 of them, in keeping with this Remembrance Day’s emphasis on the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War), a ‘Lest We Forget’ flag, a tote bag and umbrella with a poppy theme (available for purchase at the Sault’s Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 office) and other items.

Next year’s Remembrance Day display at Tamar’s Trends, Tucker said, will include a pop-up shop of items available for sale at the Legion.

This year’s display has taken on a life of its own.

“Afterward, when I was working outside, people were coming up to me, shaking my hand and thanking us, and coming inside to say thanks,” said Tamar’s employee Diane Thomas.

MacKenzie Oliver, inspired by her mother-in-law, Wilma Oliver (Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 president), raised the idea of this year’s display focusing on honouring women who have served Canada in war and peace, in uniform and in support roles (including army nurses or workers in munitions factories in Canada while men fought overseas in both World Wars, prior to women taking on combat roles in the modern day).

“Last year was our first year in this new location. We never had a window display area in our old location. We showcase our work as florists that way, but having a Remembrance Day window last year was very important to me because it’s a special occasion and it needs to be passed on to the younger generation,” Tucker said.

“Life is so fast paced today. We and the younger generation should remember we probably wouldn’t have everything we have today, everything we take for granted, had these people not done what they did,” Thomas said.

“When you think of how the world is today, war like the First and Second World War is not something we want to have happen again, so let’s stop and remember. So many Canadians and people all over the world gave their lives for peace,” MacKenzie Oliver said.