EAST CENTRAL — Royal Canadian Legions across the region are dealing with cancelled events and lost fundraising dollars while still supporting their members and having to pay their bills.
Jim Graham, the president of Royal Canadian Legion Branch #30, said their Melfort location, while in good shape, still requires around $1,400 a month in utility bills.
“Our building was formerly the SaskTel building in Melfort and we acquired it for virtually no cost back in 1992. Of course, it's old with an old boiler system, which costs a lot and gas and whatnot.”
The Melfort branch has been fundraising to replace a front step, which will happen this summer but other things like replacing the flooring and other projects within the building but those might have to wait, Graham said.
“We’ve raised a fair amount of money so that gives us a bit of a cushion but it'll be a challenge for us... Hopefully we’ll get through this so we get to a point where we can start to use it for rentals and for other fundraising events.”
The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #120 in Nipawin is facing the same problem with their president, Shauna Grassing, saying they have about $1,700 in utility and insurance expenses every month. Their weekly Bingo games covered much of those expenses.
Grassing said they have a fairly healthy bank account right now but with no secure re-opening date, she doesn’t know how long they will have before all their savings have been eaten up by bills.
Executive members are calling and checking in on Nipawin Legion members to see how they are dealing with being housebound and they are still available through their Facebook page if anyone needs assistance through their Poppy Fund.
The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #28 in Humboldt does have some room for looking after some projects, said President Don Hogemann, with the ceiling of their clubhouse getting a new coat of paint in April and some extra cleaning being done. Hogemann said they have been applying for any programs that the organization is eligible for so that will hopefully relieve some financial stress.
Sam McAdam, the president of Royal Canadian Legion Branch #50 in Tisdale, said the building they meet in is owned by the Town of Tisdale so they are financially sound for the time being. They will still need to have some upcoming meetings, he said, to keep everything up to date, including Poppy Fund dispersal.
McAdam said he hopes the Legion can be up and running for the upcoming Remembrance Day service.
“We're just like everybody else. We're waiting for that light at the end of the tunnel.”
Re-opening indoor and outdoor recreation and entertainment facilities is part of Phase IV of the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan as well as increasing the size of public gatherings to 30 people. No date has been set for this phase of the provincial government’s plan.
