While each of the Comox Valley Legions has its own members and unique aspects, they all hold a common general mission, that being to serve veterans and their dependents, promote remembrance, and be an asset to their communities.
As we approach Legion Week (Oct. 10-16), the timing is ideal to celebrate, recognize, and promote our three Comox Valley Legions - Branch 17 Courtenay, Branch 28 Cumberland, and Branch 160 Comox.
Most people will automatically associate Canadian Legions with the annual poppy drive, surrounding Remembrance Day. Indeed, very few of us have never purchased a poppy in the days leading up to Nov. 11. The majority of us buy at least one every year. The sellers can generally be found at grocery stores and shopping malls in virtually every community across the country.
An estimated 18 million poppies are distributed by legionnaires, veterans and cadets every year in the country. But where does that money go? It goes back to the veterans themselves, in the form of emergency funds and services for vets and families in distress.
Veteran support services are, in essence, the reason Canadian Legions exist, and the services are offered to all veterans and their families, whether or not they are Legion members.
“The assistance needed in the Comox community are for retired veterans,” said Lynn Edey, president of the Comox Branch 160. “We help them with emergency financial assistance, referrals to government and social agencies for assistance and most often, help with their applications for veteran benefits.”
The Comox Legion was established August of 1939 and has a current membership of 600.
Comox Branch 160 and the Ladies Auxiliary have donated to more than three dozen local charities, including Comox Valley Transition Society, Comox Valley Child Development Association, Comox Valley Therapeutic River, and YANA, just to name a few.
In addition to the Poppy Fund, the Comox Legion raises money through Friday and Saturday meat draws.
Edey said the challenges faced by Branch 160 are typical of any Legion branch.
• Brand modification to appeal to younger veterans
• Making the Legion more relevant to the needs and norms of the community
• Encouraging anyone to join the Legion (you don’t have to be a veteran). Edey said one goal is to try to get back to the membership numbers of 50 years ago.
“In the 1970s we had about 2,000 members,” she said. “The biggest challenge is to get more volunteers to participate in the Legion. The branch is operated by volunteers (all Executive positions). We have a few paid staff to operate our pub but all branch activities and services are conducted by volunteers. Our membership is aging out and many new members don’t want to commit to the work of our volunteers.”
Edey said Branch 160 is looking forward to the end of the pandemic, so it can show off the infrastructure upgrades completed during the downtime.
“During the early days of the pandemic, we completely remodelled our lounge and added a kitchen. We obtained a primary liquor licence as well. So we are now able to offer a pub-style environment with meals prepared by a professional chef.”
A return to recreation activities will help with Legion appeal as well.
“We hope to open longer hours to accommodate darts leagues,” said Edey. “We currently offer social darts and pool. It’s a big change for some of our older members but most agree that the Legion has to move forward to continue to exist.”
Courtenay Branch 17 was established in 1927 and currently has approximately 400 members.
In addition to the poppy fund, they also fundraise through “meat draws,” although they have adapted the prizes to appeal to a wider audience.
“We still do it every Friday and Saturday,” said Branch 17 president, Gary Flath. “We went from meat to the gift cards, for Thrifty Foods, and Quality Foods. So you can buy what you want with the cards… not just meat.”
There is also a 50/50 draw coinciding with the meat draws.
The canteen is open, with COVID restrictions in place. Proof of vaccination is required for entry.
“There is a maximum of six people per table, so no table-hopping,” said Flath. “You can remove your mask at your table, but if you go up to the bar for a drink, you have to put your mask on.
Branch 17 has its own service officer, Bill Webb, who helps local veterans with such things as housing and other supports.
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“He’s a busy man, Bill is,” said Flath. “He handles all that through Veterans Affairs. If you’re a veteran and you need something, you go see Bill and he takes care of it. He’s probably the busiest of everybody.”
Webb is involved with a Royal Canadian Legion program named Operation Leave The Streets Behind, which assists homeless veterans across the country.
Over the past year, Webb and other members of the Courtenay Legion have identified 14 homeless veterans in the Comox Valley. Some are vulnerable seniors, others are Gulf War and Afghan War veterans. (If you know someone who served in the Canadian Armed Forces or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who is homeless or at risk of homelessness, call 1-866-522-7708.)
Branch 17 faces the same issue as most Legions country-wide - recruiting.
The Courtenay branch had in excess of 1,000 members at its peak. Now it is less than half that.
Flack said he and other members are working hard to bring the Branch 17 numbers up.
“I’ve been to about four Dominion Command conventions, and the best (recruitment strategy) I have ever heard came from a small Legion branch in Ontario. What they concentrate on is to concentrate on going to their own family. If they could get one or two relatives to sign up, that will bring the numbers up.”
Branch 17 is a big supporter of local charities. In addition to donations from gaming funds to such programs as the Comox Valley Food Bank, Comox Valley Therapeutic Riding, Vancouver Island Society for Adaptive Snowsports, among many others, Branch 17 stands out as one of the main financial supporters of the Comox Valley Healthcare Foundation.
“I was at the hospital a couple of weeks ago, and the second-highest donation on that wall is Branch 17 - it’s close to $100,000 we have given them over the years,” said Flath.
The Record reached out to Branch 28 Cumberland, but received no response.
