OPEN HOUSE - 100 YEARS OF THE LEGION

Jan 27
2 min read

On Sunday, January 25, a small group of local people braved the threatening snow storm to make their way to the Coldwater branch and take part in the launch of our celebrations of the Royal Canadian Legion's Centenary year: yes, 100 years this year! Many of the guests were coming to be initiated as new members of the Legion – and the Coldwater branch, joining under the special Centenary year programme for 2026. Welcome aboard comrades!

During the event new members were welcomed into the branch by President Kari Malmström, and given some information about our programmes by key representatives of the branch. Guests were able to browse through dozens of photo albums covering decades of local Legion activities at the branch. And then we all enjoyed the cake!

The story of the Royal Canadian Legion finds its origins in the First World War - referred to at the time as "The Great War" - when Canadian soldiers started coming back home from the battlefields of France and Belgium, many wounded or ill, looking for medical, financial, or moral support in their communities. Veterans started forming up in associations, the main one being the Great War Veterans Association formed in 1917. By 1925 the various associations across the country decided to unite under one national level association called the Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service League. It was incorporated by an Act of Parliament on July 17, 1926, date which is considered the birth date of the Royal Canadian Legion. There were several milestones along the way in the evolution from that 1926 association to the current Royal Canadian Legion, including dropping off the words "British Empire" in 1959 and the addition of the prefix "Royal", approved by Queen Elizabeth II in 1961. In the 1970s a policy shift regarding eligibility to join the Legion changed what had hitherto been a Veterans-only association, to one that included Associate and Affiliate categories of membership. One hundred years after its birth, the Royal Canadian Legion is open to all Veterans, their relatives and supporters. Yet its main aims today remain supporting Veterans, and promoting Remembrance.

Branch Youth Education Chair and MC for the event Cheryll Barr (right) addresses the guests, with Branch President Kari Malmström standing by her side.

Ladies' Auxiliary President Donna Packer addresses the guests, inviting new members to consider volunteering with branch activities.

Poppy Chair Gaëtanne Robinson (right) addresses the guests, describing branch activities that support Veterans, with Branch President Kari Malmström standing by her side.

A group of local people braved the threatening snow storm to make their way to the Coldwater branch and take part in the launch of our celebrations of the Royal Canadian Legion's Centenary year.