It was a big day for motorcycle enthusiasts at Legion Branch No. 70 in North Battleford Saturday.
The day was already special because it was a Canadian Legion of Riders' salute to veterans, an all-day event that featured a pancake breakfast and a barbecue lunch, as well as a show and shine and several other family and motorcycle related activities.
But an announcement made the day even more special for motorcycle enthusiasts with the legion.
It was announced Sept. 14 that Legion No. 70 would be the first in Saskatchewan to launch its own bikers program.
At the event, existing legion members who are riders were provided a new pin and patch welcoming them into the new legion-based program called the Legion Riders.
Donna Gosselin, executive director of central command for the legion, said the new bikers program meets a demand from legion members.
"Many members of the legion are also motorcycle enthusiasts and until now this aspect of the legion has not been addressed," said Gosselin.
"Based on popular demand from our legion members, we are creating a motorcycle group to help generate awareness about the legion, its community engagement across the country and its services to returning and retired veterans and their families. The legion Riders are now able to mount up across Canada and you can start to see them form at legion branches from coast to coast."
The criteria for club membership includes, among others, membership in the legion, with units able to meet in legion branches and use legion facilities.
A special crest is provided to each Royal Canadian Legion rider and each legion member in good standing may purchase Legion Rider clothing and accessories.
The reason North Battleford was chosen, said Gosselin, was because they were aware of the Canadian Legion of Riders group at the legion and how it is affiliated with the North Battleford branch of the legion. She mentioned the fundraising the group already does as well as the work they've done on the Unmarked Graves project since 2006.
The event Saturday also saw the attendance of Renee Charbonneau, also known as Belt Drive Betty, who has journeyed 32,000 kilometres across Canada on a mission to help veterans.
Charbonneau was there as part of her 2013 Bikers United in Remembrance Conga in support of veterans. She has raised $7,000 for charities devoted to veterans' causes.
Charbonneau rode in from Saskatoon and was due to head to Nisku, Alta. Sunday and then Grande Prairie, Alta. Monday.
Saturday, Charbonneau voiced displeasure with the Veterans Charter and what she sees as its failure to provide enough financial support for returning veterans.
"Under the new Veterans Charter, if you've served less than ten years you no longer get a pension," she said.
Charbonneau urged citizens to write their MPs and MLAs to demand funding support for returning veterans and make it an election issue.
"We do have the power to make the government change the way they're treating our veterans," said Charbonneau.
