If you think the Legion is just a haven for good old boys, you’d be wrong
The Royal Canadian Legion was founded in 1926 under a special Act of Parliament to serve Veterans, including serving military and RCMP members and their families, to promote Remembrance, and to serve its communities and country. Any Canadian citizen or citizen of an Allied nation 18 years or older can become a member of the Legion at an annual cost of $45.
Since inception, the Legion continues to support veterans and their families, including homeless vets. Many believe their donations to the annual Poppy Fund drive supports the Legion Branches which is not the case, since the Fund is primarily purposed to assist veterans and their families. Financing of Branch facilities must come from other sources.
Over the years, Legion branches have morphed into community service-oriented organizations, actively supporting their individual communities. The Creemore Branch provides financial support to local youth sports programs. It sponsors the Creemore school speaking and essay competitions and hosts the school’s “Meet Santa” event. The Branch also sponsors the local scout pack and cadet corps who use the Branch building. The Ladies’ Auxiliary donates to the Creemore churches annually, as well as the Salvation Army and the Food Bank.
If you are interested in playing euchre or darts, the Branch welcomes everyone’s participation. Euchre is held Monday nights at 7 p.m., Ladies’ Darts at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, and Mixed Darts on Fridays at 7:30 p.m.
Call Michael Loranger at 705-466-3007 for details. The annual Canada Day fireworks display at the rear of the Creemore arena has been sponsored and financed by branch supporters for many years, together with the children’s games and picnic following the bicycle parade. Show and Shine events have taken place in the Legion parking lot, which has also accommodated the horses and hounds of the Toronto and North York Hunt and the motorcycles of the Ride for Dad participants. The branch facilities on Wellington Street, south of the arena, include a licensed kitchen and bar, a lounge that can accommodate 150 people and a hall that can sit up to 450 for dinner or host a standing capacity of 480. This past Christmas saw 80 people enjoy a community Christmas dinner, cooked, and served by community and Legion members, with another 20 takeout dinners delivered by volunteers. The community Christmas Dinner was conducted on a ‘pay what you can’ basis and made a difference to many residents at a challenging time.
The branch also reaches out to local families in distress, providing them with donated clothing and food prepared in its kitchen by volunteers.
How can you help sustain the Creemore Legion branch? Become an associate member or buy the monthly dinners as advertised in The Creemore Echo. You can also rent the branch halls for your meetings, weddings, memorials, dinners, lunches, and events, which have been catered by the Legion for years. Call Laura Earles at 705-466-2462 to help with your plans. The branch has plenty of free parking.
Given the hundreds of volunteer hours and financial support donated annually by Creemore branch members, it would be a mistake to regard ‘The Legion’ as a mere military throwback when it contributes so much to community life. And now you know.
