‘We’re holding our own’: Small town Sask. Legions prepare for Remembrance Day

Members of those two Legion branches spoke to paNOW not just about their services but what the Legion means to their small towns.

Bob Thompson has been a member of the Canwood Legion for more than 40 years, having first joined a Legion branch when he was 19 years old, before moving to Canwood. His father served in the Second World War and felt it was important for him to join and help others who served.

Earlier in the week, he helped organize different presentations and Remembrance Day services at schools in Canwood and Debden.

As they prepare to host their Saturday ceremony, Thompson talked about the Canwood Legion, how much it’s grown and how they continue to stand despite circumstances like COVID-19 and the current cost-of-living crisis.

The main source of income for Canwood, as it is for many Legion halls, is rentals on top of fundraising events throughout the year.

“If either one of those doesn’t go right, well then you can end up in trouble pretty quick,” Thompson said.

He noted the Canwood Legion has roughly 30 members, some who served and others who are family members of veterans. He acknowledges that that number will one way dwindle, which is why they’re reaching out to the community.

“It’s not going to be just the family ties that keep Legions going. We have to reach out and get new people and ex-veterans, ex-servicemen to start taking part.”

Meanwhile, Nicole Klassen with the Big River Legion Branch said there are around 15 veterans in the town, which they help support with fundraisers and Christmas care packages.

Klassen said that having Legions in small towns like Big River is important because veterans don’t just live in the big cities.

“There’s veterans from everywhere,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a big centre or a smaller centre. They’re not out there begging to be recognized but it’s nice to have something in place for them. If an emergency arises in their family, we’re there if they need it.”

“Sometimes people cannot travel to the larger cities,” The Christopher Lake Legion pointed out in a statement. “It brings our communities together to honour our local veterans and their families.”

In 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Royal Canadian Legion warned that More than 150 Legion branches face permanent closure unless the federal government came in with support. Despite, millions in pandemic relief funding eventually coming from the government, many Legion branches still suffered and many in Ontario shut their doors.

Thankfully, Legions like Canwood have survived thanks to federal and provincial funding and grants, including a $2,500 per year operating grant from the Government of Saskatchewan.

Thompson said the Canwood Legion has always had a Remembrance Day Service, even through the pandemic, and added that events, hall rentals, membership and fundraisers are also crucial.

“You can’t lose ground, or you’ll lose so much ground (and) sometimes you can’t get it back and that’s when Legions close.”

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

by Derek Craddock

‘We’re holding our own’: Small town Sask. Legions prepare for Remembrance Day

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