New facility boosts Legion morale

Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star Published: July 18, 2009 12:00 PM

The beer was cold, the coffee was hot and the smiles were plenty among Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 members and guests, enjoying the Legion’s new home at 4607-29th Street. President Gary Caswell officially opened the building with a flag raising ceremony Thursday morning at 11. “I declare this Legion open to serve the community of Vernon, our Legionnaires and guests,” said Caswell, before someone in the crowd yelled out ‘hip hip hooray.’ Close to 50 Legion members and guests attended the ceremony. The Legion needed a new home when its former spot in a downtown building at the corner of 31st Avenue and 31st Street – home to the Legion since the 1940s – was sold. The building’s new owner, however, permitted the Legion to stay until they could find a new facility.

“He let us stay until this place was ready,” smiled Caswell. “We had a closing day at the old building.” Inside the new Legion, there is room for about 150 seats, a pool table, bar, lottery terminal and dance floor. Caswell hopes to have the Legion’s kitchen up and running by the middle of August, once equipment ordered from out east arrives. The second floor of the building houses a couple of Legion offices plus some storage. Outside the Legion is what Caswell believes will be the new home’s most popular gathering spot: the landscaped patio, where those who want to enjoy a drink, a smoke and the sunshine can hang out. There are six tables, each with patio umbrellas, and a big new wooden fence. “In the province of B.C., you can’t smoke within 10 feet of the door or any exhaust fans,” said Caswell. “Our patio will be pretty popular.”

Caswell doesn’t have the final figures in for the new building, but estimates the Legion has invested around $350,000 in its new home. Legion Branch 25 is open seven days a week and is fully licenced. Any Canadian citizen of voting age is eligible to apply for Legion membership. The local branch has about 1,000 registered members. “That means we have members, it doesn’t mean they’re active members,” said Caswell. Among the active members inside the new facility enjoying a cold mid-day brew was Bill Inglis, a Second World War veteran, impressed with the Legion’s new home. “I think this is great. It’s nice and bright and it’s all level, there’s no stairs. That’s what stopped a lot of members from attending at the old Legion,” said Inglis. “We hope to get more support from our members,” added Rosemarie Baye, enjoying a cup of coffee. “It’s the support that is most important.” While the Legion may be seeking support from its own members, it continues to give back to the community.

In 2008, the Legion donated $62,000 to local charities, adult groups and to students for post-secondary bursaries and scholarships. They also continue to support veterans through its highly successful poppy campaign every fall.