During the First World War, Lillian Bilsky Freiman, a prominent resident of Ottawa and leading member of the city’s Jewish community, worked tirelessly to support a variety of causes, ranging from fundraising for orphaned children to organizing supplies for hospitals. She was particularly dedicated to supporting Canada’s soldiers and became a founding member of the Great War Veterans Association of Canada in 1917. This organization later joined with others to form the Royal Canadian Legion.
Directing the first poppy campaign in 1921, Freiman helped ensure that the movement to wear poppies as a sign of remembrance took hold in Canada. This poppy campaign advertisement from 1934 speaks to the legacy of her work.
Supporting image: Lillian Bilsky Freiman
Courtesy of the Ottawa Jewish Archive, OJA 1-567-01
