Prince Albert Branch No. 2 Royal Canadian Legion. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Ian Gustafson

Back again

Prince Albert Legion Branch has reopened but Remembrance Day ceremony cancelled

Sep 13, 2020 | 9:00 AM

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 2 in Prince Albert has officially reopened for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic in March.

According to a media release, since their reopening on Sept. 8 they have been following all provincial government guidelines, social distancing measures have been put in place and enhanced cleaning guidelines have been implemented.

Branch President Rick Hodgson said it was hard not having their veterans and members of the public visiting the branch.

“Overall, other than the veterans not having a place to go and come have their suppers and all that, we’ve done pretty good,” Hodgson said. “We’re ready for the opening but it’s still a little scary, you know, when they’re talking about the second wave coming and just make sure we do things right and make it safe for everybody.”

The added cleaning guidelines of the legion have been implemented such as using new products to clean, doing a good cleaning at the end of the night and people coming in early the next day to make sure everything is ready to go.

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The legion is back to regular hours in the lounge, Monday to Saturday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Everyone is welcome but will have to sign in prior to sitting down.

The weekly Saturday suppers will begin on Sept. 19 at 5:30 p.m. There will be table service instead of a buffet-style dinner.

Hodgson said prior to the pandemic, there was a bar service in the lounge. It’s now been changed to table service where those in attendance will have a waitress or waiter to bring them what they need.

A lot of legion events such as dances with big groups of people won’t be able to happen but he explained there can be entertainment as long as people are staying at their tables.

Service officer with the legion, Brenda Cripps, encourages everyone to come to the legion and visit when they can.

“I’ve talked to a few people and they’re very happy because that’s their place just to come for the afternoon and have coffee and visit,” she said.

Members of the military were in the front row for the Remembrance Day service at the Prince Albert Armoury. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

Remembrance Day service cancelled

Despite the good news, Hodgson explained the annual Remembrance Day ceremony at the armouries has been cancelled. Instead, the legion is going to do a virtual ceremony from Ottawa.

“It’s up to us if we can do a virtual one too, we can do it,” Hodgson said. “It’s just stuff we have to sit down and think of now.”

“Little things will happen but the big Remembrance Day [ceremony] won’t. We won’t have a big social at the legion it’ll all happen outside, but we can still have our poppy campaign which is our main thing.”

He explained money raised from the poppy campaign doesn’t stay within the local legion but goes directly to the veterans for assistance. The public will also be able to purchase wreaths to lay as well.

Editors Note: This story has been amended to reflect a change that Remembrance Day ceremonies, virtual or in person, may go ahead in communities across the country depending on provincial guidelines. They’re not all cancelled as previously reported.

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ian.gustafson@jpbg.ca