Passing Remembrance Forward: Connecting Generations with The Royal Canadian Legion
- Aug 24, 2026
- Canadiana
- 3 minute read
“Remembrance is not only about learning history, it is about honouring the real people who put the safety and well-being of others before themselves. I believe remembering their courage and sacrifice helps younger generations develop empathy, gratitude, and a deeper appreciation for the peace and freedom we have today.” - Vladyslava Pashchenko
The artist behind Canada’s newest commemorative circulation coin design has a special connection to its theme. In 2023, Vladyslava Pashchenko won the Legion National Foundation Senior Colour Poster Contest, part of the Legion’s annual National Youth Remembrance Contests; today her artwork appears on the $2 coin honouring the Legion’s centennial.
Read on to learn more.
“Remembrance is not only about learning history, it is about honouring the real people who put the safety and well-being of others before themselves. I believe remembering their courage and sacrifice helps younger generations develop empathy, gratitude, and a deeper appreciation for the peace and freedom we have today.” - Vladyslava Pashchenko
The artist behind Canada’s newest commemorative circulation coin design has a special connection to its theme. In 2023, Vladyslava Pashchenko won the Legion National Foundation Senior Colour Poster Contest, part of the Legion’s annual National Youth Remembrance Contests; today her artwork appears on the $2 coin honouring the Legion’s centennial.
Read on to learn more.
Keeping Remembrance Alive
At the branch, provincial, and national levels, the Legion helps younger generations connect to Remembrance through sports, leadership development, education, and more.
One of the longest running initiatives is the Legion’s National Youth Remembrance Contests, an annual competition that invites children and youth to honour Veterans through various forms of artistic expression.
"Through art, poetry, essays and videos, the Youth Remembrance Contests remain one of the most meaningful ways we inspire the next generation to understand the sacrifices made in service to Canada. Every submission is a reminder that Remembrance is not only about honouring the past—it is about ensuring these stories continue to shape our future." – The Royal Canadian Legion
Established in 1960, the program evolved from essay competitions that started in the late 1950s and has grown to reach tens of thousands of participating students across Canada each year. Every November, senior winners represent Canadian youth at the National Remembrance Day Ceremony in Ottawa.
Image: Vladyslava Pashchenko's winning poster
From Contest Winner to Coin Designer
“Winning the [poster] contest gave me confidence in my abilities as an artist and reminded me that hard work and perseverance truly pay off,” says Pashchenko. “At the time, I could never have imagined that winning this contest would open the door to opportunities like contributing to [this coin] design.”
To capture the intergenerational spirit of Remembrance and the Legion’s role in fostering it, our commemorative circulation team invited three former Youth Poster Contest winners to submit designs for the 100th Anniversary of The Royal Canadian Legion $2 coin. Pashchenko’s design was selected.
“Working on the [coin] design was both an incredible honour and one of the most meaningful experiences of my artistic journey. Knowing that my design would become part of something with such national significance was both exciting and humbling, and it is an experience I will always cherish.”
Image: Vladyslava Pashchenko, Artist
How Legacies Live On
The 2026 commemorative $2 circulation coin honours a century of the Legion’s unwavering support for Veterans and its vital role in connecting generations through Remembrance, service, and community.
“I hope this coin helps people recognize The Royal Canadian Legion’s purpose and the incredible work it has done over the past 100 years,” says Pashchenko. “I would love for this coin to encourage Canadians to reflect on that legacy and appreciate the important work the Legion continues to do today.”
The trademarks Poppy Design, LEGION & Design and LEGION are owned and registered by The Royal Canadian Legion (Dominion Command) and are used under licence.
Photos: Legion Magazine archives/The Royal Canadian Legion.