Dear Branch President/Poppy Chair, During the 2026 Convention Poppy and Remembrance workshop, we introduced a new way to accept contactless donations that National Headquarters is piloting during the 2026 Poppy Campaign. The technology, known as SoftPOS, turns a compatible smartphone into a donation terminal — no separate payment device or additional hardware is required. A Branch volunteer opens the app, selects the donation amount, and the donor taps their contactless card or mobile wallet on the phone. Although this technology is relatively new in Canada, it has been successfully used in the UK for years, including by the Royal British Legion to collect donations for its Poppy Appeal. Watch this short video to see how it works We are inviting a limited number of Branches across Canada to participate in this year’s pilot. Participating Branches will be asked to: - Identify Branch volunteers who will use the app to collect donations during the Poppy Campaign.
- Have volunteers attend a short virtual training session on how to set up and operate the app.
- Provide feedback on their experience with the technology.
National Headquarters will provide training materials, instructions and support throughout the pilot. Donations collected through the app will be returned to your Branch’s Poppy Fund via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), less processing fees. If your Branch would like to participate, please reply to this email by October 6, 2026, to confirm. Spaces are limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. We look forward to working with participating Branches as we introduce this new way of accepting Poppy donations. Sincerely, Poppy and Remembrance Division
The Royal Canadian Legion – National Headquarters | 
