25 -~ Wednesday, November 4, 1987 - North Shore News Poppies a reminder of wartime suffering AS WE watch the Remembrance Day ceremonies each year, atten- tion focuses on war veterans. They, after all, are the ones who went to war and suffered through the horrors of combat. But they weren’t the only Cana- dians to suffer, for war nas no respect for age or sex. The horror that Canadians faced at home was of a different kind, the kind that made people watch their front gate and hope that the telegraph boy wouldn't show up with a telegram from the Depart- ment of National Defence repor- ting that a husband or a son had been killed. During the Second World War, more than 60,000 of these telegrams were sent. But concerns and worries about loved ones weren’t the only hard- ships faced by the people who stayed at home when Canada went to war. Rationing was very well known during the war. Canada had a small population when the Second World War started, about half of what it is today, and most of our factories were busy produc- ing the arms and ammunition and ships the armed forces needed. That meant there weren't enough factories to make the foods, the cars and the other goods people are accustomed to. Because goods were scarce, the government decided that the only way to ensure that people got their fair share was to ration them. Ca- nadians were given coupons that allowed them to buy a certain amount of butter, gasoline and Nordica 715 ski boots, reg. $234.99, Raichle Fiero ski boots, reg. $229.99, food cach week. Without the coupons, prices would have risen drastically, but rationing also meant that many of the things that had been taken for granted, like Sunday drives and large meals, were no longer possi- ble. There were more serious in- conveniences 100, because there could be problems getting to work, or to a doctor’s appointment. When the war finally ended in 1945, there were huge celebrations in Toronto, Winnipeg and other cities. Why were people so happy? Skis: Rossignol SCR skis, reg. $249.99, Dynastar Equipe jr: skis, reg. $109.99, Fischer SC4 Super skis, reg. $349.99, Fischer Top Flair skis, reg. $249.99, Dynamic VX 23 skis, reg. $189.99, Kneissl Pro Star skis, reg. $224.99, Spalding TTC skis, reg. $199.99, Bindings: Look SP41 bindings, reg. $94.99, Salomon 447 bindings, reg. $124.99, Tyrolia 190 bindings, reg. $129.99, a;sada's largest sports retailer has the right stuff for the white stuff. We're the great provider for , the sports you know well, and the great advisor ” for the skills you want to know better. With our introduction to Alberta and B.C., we now have over 200 stores across Canada. And we're connected with the world’s largest sportswear buying group. Whatever you want, in products, in performance, in price or advice, we're the source. PORT COQUITLAM Coquitlam Centre’ 2929 Barnet Hwy. 464-5122 NORTH VANCOUVER Norgate Plaza 1329 Marine Drive 980-5781 RICHMOND 4600 No. 3 Road 273-1676 BURNABY Metrotown Centre 4800 Kingsway 435-1975 Clearance Centre Brentwood Mall 4567 Lougheed Hwy, 299-1481 Mainly, of course, because peace meant no more long casualty lists and no more sad telegrams But Canadians were also happy because they knew that their lives could once more return to normal, and that the sacrifices of the war years were behind them. The poppies that Canadians wear every year during The Royal Canadian Legion's Poppy Cam- paign are one way of showing that these sacrifices haven't been forgotten. now $159.99 now $109.99 now $149.99 now $79.99 now $239.99 now $149.99 now $119.99 now $129.99 now $99.99 now $49.99 now $59.99 now $64.99 NANAIMO Richmond Location Woodgrove Centre 6631 Island Hwy North 390-4211