By Greg Wigmore
Legion faces dwindling numbers
After more than a half-century of assisting its members, their families, and the Centretown community, the Montgomery branch of the Royal Canadian Legion is asking its neighbours for help.
Many veterans of the Second World War and Korean War, who formed the core of its membership for decades, have died in recent years. As a result, the branch’s main source of funding has dried up and it faces closure unless it finds ways to supplement its income.
At one time, the branch had close to 2,000 members.
“Now, we’re down to approximately 900 members,” says branch president Norm Kenney.
Ottawa Centre MP Mac Harb organized a fundraising auction for Feb. 22 as a step toward the ultimate goal of ensuring the branch survives and remains at its Kent Street location.
“I knew about the financial situation they were going through,” says Harb. “This is an exceptionally important cause.”
Last fall, Harb and the Montgomery branch sent out more than 400 letters asking local businesses and residents to donate articles and services to be auctioned, such as gift certificates and club memberships.
Branch co-chair Barb Strachan says she is disappointed by the overall lack of donations from the community but adds she is grateful to those who did contribute.
Proceeds from the auction will not only let the branch keep its facilities open to veterans and other members, they will also allow the legion to continue its work in the community, says branch co-chair Barb Strachan.
“Many people are not aware of all the charities that the legion supports, in addition to its primary purpose of ensuring the comfort of veterans and their families,” she says.
Strachan says the branch provides money and volunteer service to a number of causes in the community and also makes its facilities available to charitable groups free of charge.
“We’re hoping that the general public will understand our situation because we help the community and hope that they will help us as well,” says Kenney.
New regulations allow any Canadian citizen to join the branch as an affiliate member for a $40 fee. Montgomery branch hopes to recruit new members from the community to reinforce its thinning ranks.
There are currently about 1,600 legion branches across Canada. Roughly 100 branches have closed or merged with other branches in the last 15 years.
Many of the Second World War veterans have died or are quickly approaching 80 years of age, says Kenney, and the Korean War veterans are not far behind.
Both Kenney and Harb say the auction is only the first step in what will be an ongoing effort to drum up community support for the legion.
“The legion is a window to the past and at the same time a door to the future,” says Harb.
“It’s extremely important to band together as a community. If we do not do so, it would be a failure on our part to the community.”