Every poppy tells a story.
For Keith Varga, General Merchandise Associate at Store 3109 in Victoria, B.C. and Royal Canadian Navy veteran, it represents 26 years of service, months spent away from his family and the Canadians who have served, and continue to serve, our country.
From October 24 to November 11, Walmart Canada stores are supporting the Royal Canadian Legion’s annual Poppy Campaign, welcoming Legion representatives at participating locations to collect donations in support of Canada’s veterans and their families.
For Keith, seeing the campaign at his own Walmart store carries special meaning.
“When I see the Poppy Campaign set up at our store, it makes me proud our store recognizes veterans like me and the brave men and women who continue to serve our great country.”
A lifetime of service
Keith’s journey began in Scarborough, Ont., shortly after graduating from high school. At a Christmas gathering with his then-girlfriend and high school sweetheart, and now wife Faith, he struck up a conversation with her neighbour’s son who was serving in the military.
Intrigued by what he heard, 18-year-old Keith walked into a recruiting centre in Toronto the following week and applied.
“It was the best decision I made in my life,” Keith said.
Keith would spend the next 26 years in the Royal Canadian Navy, eventually achieving the rank of Petty Officer Second Class and representing Canada around the world.
“Serving Canada meant the world to me,” he said. “I met amazing people from around the world, learned about different cultures and saw places I never could have imagined. If I had the chance to do it all again, I absolutely would.”
Together, after years apart
Keith is quick to point out that his service was never his alone.
While he was away on deployments that could last four to nine months, Faith cared for their three young children, Jenn, Stephanie and Chris, and kept their household running.
At a time before video calls and text messages, letters from home became Keith’s connection to his family.
“Opening a letter from home meant the world to me,” he said. “I would smell Faith’s perfume on it. There would be little handwritten notes from my children and pictures that I would hang in my locker or by my bunk. When things were hard, I would reread those letters and look at their photos.”
After retiring from the Navy in 2011, Keith continued his service as a civilian with the Department of National Defence until 2017. A few years later, he started a new chapter, joining Walmart in November 2022, where Faith was already an associate.
After a military career that often took him thousands of kilometres away from his family, Keith and his wife now work together at the Victoria Walmart.
“I thought it would be nice to spend more time with Faith because of all the time I was away from her when I was in the military,” Keith said.
More than a symbol of remembrance
This year’s Poppy Campaign holds additional significance as the Royal Canadian Legion celebrates its 100th anniversary, marking a century of supporting Canada’s veterans and their families.
“The Poppy Campaign isn’t just about the fallen,” says Keith. "It’s about living veterans as well. When I see associates and customers wearing poppies, I think, ‘Thank you.’ Thank you for donating to a great cause and supporting our veterans and their families.”
It’s a message Keith hopes Canadians carry with them beyond November 11.
As we wear our poppies and pause to remember, Walmart Canada extends its heartfelt gratitude to our veterans, military families and all those who serve. We honour the sacrifices made by generations of Canadians and remember those who lost their lives in service to our country.
Lest We Forget.
