HONOURS & AWARDS AT THE COLDWATER BRANCH

On Tuesday May 27, the Coldwater Branch held its annual Honours & Awards ceremony to present several Legion Years of Service pins, Certificates of Appreciation, Certificates of Merit, Past Office medals and bars, the Legionnaire of the Year 2024 award, and a Life Membership award.  Congratulations to all the recipients, and particularly to our Sergeant-at-Arms Debbie Southorn, who was awarded the title of Legionnaire of the Year, and to Past President Marie Langley, who was awarded a Life Membership in the Legion.

At the Coldwater Branch 2025 Honours & Awards ceremony, Years of service pins for five years' service as Associate members were presented by Sergeant-at-Arms Debbie Southorn (left) and 3rd Vice President Al Myre (right) to branch members (left-to-right) Darleen and Donald Lovering, and Bruce Hanson.   Congratulations to all.

At the Coldwater Branch 2025 Honours & Awards ceremony, Years of service pins for service as Associate members were presented by Sergeant-at-Arms Debbie Southorn (left) and 3rd Vice President Al Myre (right) to branch members (left-to-right) Sheila Burke (20 Years) and Kari Malmström (10 years).  Congratulations to Sheila and Kari.

Congratulations to Veteran Norm Marion (center) who was presented his pin representing 10 Years of Service as Ordinary member of the Legion by Sergeant-at-Arms Debbie Southorn (right) and 3rd Vice President Al Myre.

Bars to Past Office medals were presented by 3rd Vice President Al Myre (left) and Sergeant-at-Arms Debbie Southorn (right) to branch members (left-to-right) Penny Lawrence-Judges (Ways & Means), Paula Brown (Service Officer), Gaëtanne Robinson (Poppy), and Henny Risebrough (Bursary).  Congratulations to all.

Congratulations to Comrade Kari Malmström (center), who was presented a bar to his Past Office medal (1st Vice President) by Sergeant-at-Arms Debbie Southorn (left) and 2nd Vice President John O'Hara.

Congratulations to Comrade Al  Myre (center), who was presented a bar to his Past Office medal (3rd Vice President) by Sergeant-at-Arms Debbie Southorn (left) and 2nd Vice President John O'Hara.

Congratulations to Comrade John O'Hara (center), who was presented a bar to his Past Office medal (2nd Vice President) by Sergeant-at-Arms Debbie Southorn (left) and 1st Vice President Kari Malmström.

Congratulations to outgoing President Anne Frankish (center), who was presented her Past President medal and bar, surrounded here by the three Vice Presidents and Sergeant-at-Arms, left-to-right: Al Myre (3rd VP), Debbie Southorn (Sgt-at-Arms), John O'Hara (2nd VP), and Kari Malmström (1st VP).

Congratulations and thank you to the volunteers of the Children's Christmas Committee.  Accepting a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of the committee are Mrs. Claus herself, Grace Mahoney (2nd from left) and Margaret Ann Murray (right).  Presenting the certificate were Sergeant-at-Arms Debbie Southorn (left) and 1st Vice President Kari Malmström.

Congratulations to Comrade Barry Gougeon (center), who was presented a Certificate of Appreciation for volunteering his time and energy to further the goals of Branch 270 Coldwater.  The certificate was presented by Sergeant-at-Arms Debbie Southorn (left) and 1st Vice President Kari Malmström.

Congratulations to Comrade Lloyd Sibley (center), who was presented a Certificate of Appreciation for volunteering his time and energy to further the goals of Branch 270 Coldwater, particularly for his assistance to the branch Treasurer.  The certificate was presented by Sergeant-at-Arms Debbie Southorn (left) and 3rd Vice President Al Myre Malmström.

Congratulations to Comrade Al Myre (center), who was presented a Certificate of Merit by Sergeant-at-Arms Debbie Southorn (left) and President Anne Frankish.  The citations reads:

"As our Treasurer and Sports Officer or, as he has dubbed it, “formfillerouter”, Al has brought our branch into this century with several innovations including a new cash register system and special event ticket sales. He has worked hard to get these new systems set up with the bank. The bar is now using the new cash registers upstairs as well as downstairs. Al also set up a system that allows us to sell special event tickets through a third party.  For these efforts we take great pleasure in presenting to Al this Certificate of Merit."

Congratulations to Comrade Kari Malmström (center), who was presented a Certificate of Merit by Sergeant-at-Arms Debbie Southorn (left) and President Anne Frankish.  The citations reads:

"This member has taken on substantial responsibilities in regards to upgrades of the Legion, including replacing doors, redoing roof, replacing windows, leading a crew to paint and refresh the clubroom and downstairs washrooms. He is also leading the refurbishment of our canteen to get it back up and running. We take pleasure in presenting to Kari this Certificate of Merit."

Congratulations to Comrade Marlene Klanert (center), who was presented a Certificate of Merit by Sergeant-at-Arms Debbie Southorn (left) and President Anne Frankish.  The citations reads:

"This member has worked tirelessly on the executive and as secretary to ensure that our grant applications are properly filled out, sent, received by the organisation, and the ever important follow up. This allowed for Branch to proceed with renovations in a timely manner. A few of the grants submitted were the parking lot paving, new chairs throughout, new windows and new doors. We are pleased to present to Marlene this Certificate of Merit"

Congratulations to Comrade Penny Lawrence-Judges (center), who was presented a Certificate of Merit by President Anne Frankish (left) and Sergeant-at-Arms Debbie Southorn.  The citations reads:

"This member has worked tirelessly to promote our Branch Entertainment, bringing a variety of bands, musical jams and recognition of our participation in the blues community. The attendance numbers continue to grow, thereby increasing the bottom line of our Branch financials. This allows us to pursue new endeavours. She does a great job with a low budget. She promotes our weekly events and is ever present to assist and volunteer for all activities in the Legion. We take pleasure in awarding to Penny the Certificate of Merit."

Congratulations to Comrade Cheryll Barr (center), who was presented a Certificate of Merit by Sergeant-at-Arms Debbie Southorn (left) and President Anne Frankish.  The citations reads:

"This member holds down many jobs in our Legion: Membership, Youth Education, Bottle Drive and Bar Steward. This past year she was called upon (at the last minute) to organize five schools covered by a local Branch that wished to participate in the Youth Education Remembrance Poster & Literary Contests. She was able to prepare the additional information packages, complete the classification and sorting of several hundred posters and poems and provide the judging. The Posters and Poems were well done, with several of our students and students from the extra branch moving on to Zone and then to District."

The MC for the Coldwater Branch 2025 Honours & Awards ceremony was Honours & Awards Chair John O'Hara, seen here addressing members and guests.

Congratulations to Sergeant-at-Arms Debbie Southorn (center), who was presented the Legionnaire of the Year Award by President Anne Frankish (left) and 1st Vice President Kari Malmström.  The citations reads:

"This member volunteers for all events, wearing a variety of hats, as either Legion Member or Member of The Ladies' Auxiliary or both, and is active in many aspects of Legion daily functions. She carries out duties of Sergeant-at-Arms as well as Bar Manager. She decorates for each season preparing the upstairs and downstairs, inside and out for each celebration be it Christmas, President’s New Year Levee, Valentine’s Day, St Patty’s Day Thanksgiving, Halloween, Remembrance Day and Veteran Luncheons.  For Leadership demonstrated in furthering the goals of the Coldwater Legion through your constant smile, commitment to volunteerism and awesome attitude we take great pleasure in presenting you with the Legionnaire of The Year Award for 2024."

Congratulations to Past President Marie Langley (center), who was presented a Life Membership in the Royal Canadian Legion.  To present the award, the two current Life Members at Branch 270 were asked to come forward.  Presenting the award are, left-to-right: President Anne Frankish; Life Member Grace Mahoney; Life Member Betty-Jean Murray; and 1st Vice President Kari Malmström.  The citations reads:

"This Member joined Coldwater Legion Branch 270 in August of 2008, continuing the family’s tradition as members, volunteers and officers of the Legion and Ladies' Auxiliary.  In 2009 she wasted little time, taking an active role as Poppy Chair.  In 2010 she continued the role of Poppy Chair. She still provides a wealth of information and assistance and is a member of the Poppy committee to present day. She recognizes the importance of our most remote areas to canvas and provide donation boxes.  In 2010 she joined the Ladies' Auxiliary and maintains her availability and presence to date.  In 2011 she assumed the Membership Chair and also the role of 2nd Vice.  This helped ready her to learn the procedures and responsibilities for future offices.  In 2012 she kept the Membership Chair and added Ways & Means and Entertainment for a better understanding of the social side of the Legion. She then moved up to 1st Vice readying herself for the role of President. She had prepared for the role of President by performing and understanding the roles of offices required to successfully operate the Legion.  She served several terms as president receiving a Certificate of Merit and Legionnaire of the Year as well.  She continued her service through visitation programs for Veterans in our area of North Simcoe and Coldwater. If she believes an individual is a Veteran or if a person is in need she makes it her priority to find out what is needed and how best to provide. She shows a genuine concern for their care and compassion toward their plight.  She is always available and first to volunteer and mentor within the Legion and community, assisting Veterans and community in any way. She has remained a valuable member of the Coldwater Branch and has put in many hours volunteering her time and expertise.  She has been an active member since 2008 and showing no sign of slowing down. First thing she says is ‘I am here, what can I do to help."   In her spare time, while watching Racing sports specifically NASCAR, she knits her famous lap blankets, toques, mitts and scarves for Veterans and the homeless. Each year she coordinates the distribution to shelters, retirement homes and our Veterans."