It was a hugely successful year for the Okotoks Legion's poppy campaign.

This was the second year for the Okotoks branch's campaign where more businesses reached out to the legion wanting to be involved.

Maureen Haberstock, chair of the poppy campaign, says current economic hardships didn't impact their success.

"Our expectations, given the economy, were relatively moderate but to our great delight we found the people of Okotoks were even more generous than last year."

This year the legion expanded its connections and is now tied in with the Okotoks and District Chamber of Commerce for support and the Okotoks Food Bank has opened a veterans section.

Haberstock says the total raised was beyond what she predicted.

"Our final count was $76,851.98, that's not including the final donation which was given on a pledge to us from the Dewdney Players who are going to be donating the proceeds from the opening night of their current production It's a Wonderful Life."

Haberstock adds another success of the campaign is that no poppy boxes were reported as stolen in Okotoks.

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