The Estevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion has decided to apply for federal support due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but president Jim (Frosty) Forrest is quick to point out the legion is in much better shape financially now than three years ago, when it had to appeal to the community for financial support and make changes to its operations.
The legion’s membership held a meeting Friday night, and decided to apply for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA), which provides interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits.
The legion will apply for the full $40,000, with the money going to branch operations. If they repay the balance of the loan on or before Dec. 31, 2022, the feds will forgive 25 per cent, up to $10,000.
“We got approval to apply for this, and set money aside to pay it back when the term is up, and take advantage of the money we’d get from it,” said Forrest.
CEBA is a good program for the legion, he said. The organization hasn’t been able to do any hall rentals or banquets, or host any concerts, which normally create some revenues.
Their club room was closed until recently, but it has to operate under provincial guidelines for social distancing and other measures. Business has been slow, because some aren’t eager to go out on a regular basis.
The shuffleboard and pool tables within the club room are open.
Now that they can have 30-person gatherings, the hall can be rented out again. The legion was the site of a blood donor clinic for the Canadian Blood Services recently, which was good for the legion.
Forrest said the legion is doing all right financially. They face expenses that never go away, regardless of whether their venues are open. But they aren’t staring at the same financial hardships they encountered in August 2017, when they made an urgent plea to the community for support.
“We’ve made such terrific gains, and it’s just through the hard work of our members. They’ve worked at making sure the legion remains here and remains viable, and we’ve been very successful.”
The legion’s annual truck raffle, which helps offset some of their costs, is currently underway. Ticket sales have done well, but they’re behind this time last year due to a late start. An early bird draw is coming up on Sept. 5.
And the legion also has its poppy campaign sales in the fall. Forrest said the legion always enjoys tremendous support for the sales, and he believes it’s the most important thing a legion can do throughout the year, because the money is used to support veterans.
The legion will be making donations in the coming weeks to a number of organizations that support veterans, using the money from previous poppy campaigns.
