MOOSE JAW — Nearly 150 friends and members of Moose Jaw’s Royal Canadian Legion packed the venue’s lounge recently to remember the good times at their building and say goodbye to “an old friend.”
Branch No. 59 held a farewell banquet to honour their nearly 100-year-old building at 258 High Street West, which they are leaving for 693 Fairford Street West because their current lease expires on May 1.
Veteran Alex Cameron, 87, joked that he attended the banquet only because he was hungry.
“As a member of this unit for 50 years, I thought I better make an appearance with my friends and say goodbye,” he said. “I got my 50-year pin (recently) … and I’ve (held) just about all the executive member (positions).”
Cameron arrived in Moose Jaw in the fall of 1974, several months after a big flood hit the community and filled the Legion building’s basement with more than six feet of water.
The lounge had been repaired when he arrived, so there was little indication that water had damaged the venue. However, members had installed a plaque showing the water’s height.
Asked about his favourite memory, Cameron said he was thrilled to attend a national Legion curling championship in 1993 with three other members. He added that only two teammates are still living.
“I’ll hate to see it go, I really will. It means something — it’s … a building that the Legion’s always been in,” said Taffi Cameron, Alex’s wife. “We had fun!”
Doris Wilkinson joined with her husband 45 years ago and has enjoyed being a member. She noted that they volunteered and curled regularly, usually alongside the Camerons.
Continuing, Wilkinson said moving to a new building would be different, but hoped the adjustment would be easy.
“I mean, this (current) building is getting old and it needs to be changed,” she laughed.
Attending the banquet was important for Norma Richardson since it was a “milestone event” for the building. She has been a Legion member for 30 years and enjoyed the camaraderie of others, while she realized after attending several provincial conventions that there was more to the organization than the bar.
“… I learned that the Legion advocates for veterans and the poppy fund. And I have been volunteering ever since,” she said, noting she has handled public relations on and off since 2012.
While it’s sad to leave the current venue, “it was nickel-and-diming us to death (and) we couldn’t afford it anymore,” Richardson added. A new building will be wonderful since it will be “nice and fresh and bright” and not in a basement.
Dan MacAuley, past president from 1997 to 1998, has had great experiences during his 49 years as a member. He has enjoyed meeting new people and reminiscing with old acquaintances. His most endearing memory was hanging out with “the old guys,” most of whom have died.
“I am the last president from (the) 1990s. The rest are all 2000 and more,” he remarked.
MacAuley thought moving to a new building was good since the current venue didn’t meet the organization’s needs anymore. Moreover, acquiring a new location showed the community that the organization was serious about keeping its charter and serving veterans.
The past president added that a new building would also be good for new members.
Amy Smith was one of 28 new people who joined recently; she became a member because she wanted to meet people after moving to Moose Jaw.
“I said I need something to do when I retire, (so) I found my retirement place to live,” she said. “Everyone has been so welcoming; Moose Jaw is the friendliest place I’ve ever lived. And I couldn’t be happier to be part of this wonderful group.”
Smith added that she was excited to see the new Legion building and begin volunteering.
