The Kamloops Legion on Landsdowne St. has seen membership jump past the 400 mark (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION

Local legions welcoming more people thanks to incentives, creativity to attract new members

Oct 30, 2019 | 5:21 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Royal Canadian Legion has a long history of proudly supporting veterans. The first was found in 1925 following the First World War, providing a space for former service members to gather.

The lounge is a place for people — not just veterans and their families — to have a drink and socialize. The Kamloops Legion has been welcoming veterans since 1927. For more than 90 years, it has served as a place for veterans, as well as servicemen and women, and others in the community.

While some legions are struggling in uncertain times, with some across the country closing their doors, places like Kamloops are growing.

“Our membership numbers right now, as of today, are around the 400 mark,” said president of the Kamloops legion, Branch 52, Craig Thomson. “We’ve been under the 400 mark for the last several years, so we’re quite happy that we’re back up to that.”

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Branch 52 in Kamloops is seeing more veteran membership, surpassing the total of associate members that includes family members of veterans. The recent increase of what are called “ordinary” members is bucking the trend across the country with more retired veterans and RCMP members joining.

Thomson says the upward trend can be associated with incentives put in place by the legion in the last year.

“For example, we are giving the first year membership free to any current serving or retired member of either the Canadian Armed Forces or the RCMP,” said Thomson. “We’re also offering the same to any cadets that are aging out and becoming 18, 19 years old.”

Former veterans and their families gathered at the legion on Monday as Korean War veterans were honoured (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

The Kamloops branch has never had to consider closing, though it has considered reducing hours. But a jump in members has made for more certain times. The money brought into the legion through fundraisers like dinners, meat draws and poppy sales, goes directly to veterans in the community who may be struggling.

“We have several veteran housing facilities that we support,” said Thomson. “We support veterans transitioning skills, and that’s transitioning from the military into civilian life. We provide funding for companion dogs for veterans.”

Further south, Branch 113 in Ashcroft is going steady. It has 235 members, including some from Logan Lake. The numbers haven’t fluctuated greatly in the last five years, but if not for attracting a younger crowd they could see a lot fewer.

“We’ve got younger members that have decided it’s a nice, quiet place to bring their wife. Nobody bothers them,” said president of the Ashcroft Legion George Cooke.

The legion in Ashcroft has extended its hours to welcome more people in the last year (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

The branch is working at a disadvantage with only around 1,600 people in Ashcroft. But it has worked hard to bring in more people. As only one of two places to get a drink in the village, it has expanded its hours in the last year to become a more welcoming place.

“We’re now attracting hockey players, adult hockey players, after they’re done. We’re staying open a bit later for them,” said the legion’s vice-president Darrin Curran. “Six days a week, we have something going on in the legion, whether it’s crib, darts, pool, the dinners, meat draw. Every day, there’s pretty well something.”

Once every couple of months, the Ashcroft legion also fills the place with musical acts in the hopes of keeping people as members.

“We’re bringing in tribute bands and stuff that’s going to appeal to different clientele. It’s really helped out a lot on those nights,” noted Curran.

Creative ideas is how legions will remain relevant. Membership coordinator in Kamloops, Brenda Thomson, says every branch has to start being proactive if they haven’t already.

“People love coming to the legion on Remembrance Day. They love participating in Remembrance Day,” she said. “We welcome everybody and anyone to the legion on Remembrance Day. How proactive are we with those groups? Do we actually say, ‘Hey if you like it here and you understand the legion and you believe in the philosophy of what we do, then consider becoming a member?'”

Anyone in the community, even those without military connections, can become a member and enjoy the legion atmosphere. It’s now up to each branch to attract more those people in order to ensure they’re here for many years to come.

Note: This story will be part of a half-hour special We Stand On Guard, which will air on Remembrance Day on Nov. 11 on CFJC-TV.