The financial issues of a few years ago are officially over for the Estevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.
A lot of thoughtful work and effort were put into it, and on Dec. 15 at their annual general meeting, they finally announced some great news.
"We had some financial difficulties a few years ago, and Saskatchewan command installed an advisory committee to watch over us. We've been under the advisory committee for four years. And as of (Dec. 15) we've been released from the advisory committee," said Royal Canadian Legion Estevan branch president Jim (Frosty) Forrest.
"It's good work that the branch has done and the support of the community as well."
The legion also held the election of officers the same night. Forrest was re-elected as the branch president for the next two years. Tyson Wilhelm was elected the first vice-president. Willie Forrest is now the second vice-president. Leonard Grube was elected the legion’s treasurer, and Willie Forrest is also sergeant at arms. Other executive officers were also elected.
The legion also discussed all the donations they were able to provide to the community this year. Their annual truck raffle was a big success in 2019. The money raised from it, combined with other funds gained through bingos and other gaming activities, organized by the legion, allowed them to provide $43,000 in donations to various organizations.
The donations varied from $100 to a few thousand, benefitting numerous groups including the Estevan and District Music Festival, Child Find Saskatchewan, Estevan Minor Baseball, Southeast Military Museum, St. Joseph's Hospital Addiction Treatment Centre and long-term care facility, Creighton Lodge, Estevan Regional Nursing Home, United Way Estevan, SMILE Services, STARS Air Ambulance and the Salvation Army's food bank. They also provided food donations to the Ocean Man, Pheasant Rump and White Bear's food banks.
With the poppy fund, the Estevan's legion was also able to provide $36,000 in donations, supporting veterans. The poppy fund is a separate volume of money that is raised every year through the poppy campaign and allocated to support veterans. Traditionally, most money raised through the poppy campaign in 2019 was directed towards the Paws for Vets program, which supplies service dogs for veterans, the Leave the Streets Behind program, which helps homeless vets, and the Veterans Wellness program, which works with general health and wellbeing of veterans. The legion was also able to support the local army and air cadets, as well as the pipe and drum school, and provided bursaries to Estevan Comprehensive School graduates, which all also fall under the fund protocols.
Forrest added that 2019 was a very successful year for their fundraisers, so they were able to provide even more donations in 2020.
To keep up with their support for the community next year, the Estevan's legion is currently running the truck raffle. The first prize is a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado, the second prize is $10,000 cash and the third prize is $5,000 cash. The legion will use all money raised through the raffle to help local charities in 2021.
The tickets are $100 and are available at the legion office, Murray GM, Southern Bolt Supplies and Henders Drugs. Legion members will also be out in the community selling tickets throughout the last days of the year, so keep an eye out for the red Chevy truck with the legion's decals.
E-transfers are accepted to [email protected].
The draw will take place on Dec. 31.
