The Royal Canadian Legion is contemplating court action to prevent a peace group from distributing white poppies during this year's Remembrance Day events.
"This is a time when everybody stops to reflect on November 11 and such a detraction is, in my mind, not respectful," said legion member Bill Maxwell.
Despite opposition from veterans, Ottawa group "Voice of Women" is promoting a white version of the symbolic red poppy, which has been used to represent Canadian war dead since 1921.
The group said the white poppy is meant to be a way to remember fallen soldiers while also opposing war.
"You have different people adopting the white poppy and that's fine," said writer Heather Menzies. "The more it enters the consciousness of Canadians, the more we can say never again, never again."
If the peace group decides to sell the white poppies, the legion will pursue legal action as it owns the trademark to both the poppy's colour and configuration.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Kimothy Walker
