In just over a year, the The Royal Canadian Legion will celebrate 100 years of service to Canadian Veterans.
In 1921 following the “War to End All Wars” that ended in 1918, First World War Veterans groups and regimental associations were formed. But despite their shared goals, efforts were fragmented and unsuccessful. To try to address the issue, two British field marshalls created the Commonwealth Ex-Services League to link 46 organizations in more than 40 countries.
Historian and legion life member Harry Welton noted that between 1917 and 1925, 14 national organizations came into being in Canada.
“The largest group in Canada, the Great War Veterans Association of Canada, fostered a Salmon Arm Branch in 1918,” he noted, pointing out that on March 21, 1927, the Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service League Salmon Arm, BC was issued a charter as Branch #62,
On Dec.19, 1960, Queen Elizabeth II gave her consent to use the prefix “Royal,” and the organization became known as 'The Royal Canadian Legion."
Welton said that in the early years, the branch maintained contact with First World War veterans, organized Armistice Day ceremonies and sponsored a New Year’s Eve dance.
An annual Christmas party was held, with presents provided for all of the children in attendance, an event that continued into the 1960s, Welton said.
In the 1930s, the branch bought the old Finn Hall located on Front Street and revenue generated in the new facility allowed for the expansion of community services.
The Salmar Community Association, which owns and operates the two local theatres, the Salmar Grand Cinemas and the historic Salmar Classic Theatre, was formed in 1946 with the goal of constructing an arena as a memorial to local veterans of the Second World War. Members of the association raised money by building a movie theatre and devoting revenue to the project.
In May, 1949, the Salmar Theatre (now the Classic) was opened for business, and before a decade was over, they opened the Salmon Arm Memorial Arena. And the dedication of the Salmon Arm and District Memorial Centennial Arena took place at the cenotaph on Remembrance Day, 1961.
An influx of new veterans from the Second World War revitalized Branch #62 with the need to provide more services. New activities developed throughout the 1950s, including sponsoring youth activities, the provision of educational assistance and maintenance of Salmon Arm Veteran’s cemetery plots.
In the1960s, Branch #62’s Junior Olympic Track and Field Training Program introduced hundreds of young people to sports. A real highlight of the local legion at that time was the introduction of the Thunder Mug Bonspiel.
“The trophy, fittingly enough, was donated by local plumber Rolly Jamieson,” said Welton. ”Comrades Roy Beech and honorary members Cliff Hobbs and Jim Green did most of the organizing over the years.”
In 1961, Branch #62 joined several other North Okanagan legion branches in establishing the Gardom Lake Veterans Camp and Recreation Area. The branch continues to maintain a cabin at the site, providing Veterans with a lakeside getaway.
Fundraising begun in 1971 culminated in the construction of a new legion building at 141 Hudson Street NW in 1973. The new, larger facility and bingo revenue enabled the branch to expand services to the community including continuing sponsorship of air and army cadets and sports such as hockey and baseball.
Almost 30 years later, it became evident that the clubhouse needed to be replaced.
“Due in large measure to the local Salmar Association, who owns the land and leases it to the branch for as long as the legion continues to operate, a new building opened in 2003,” noted Welton, who served as Branch #62 president for a number of years and has been instrumental in recording the history of the branch and Veterans whose names are engraved on the Salmon Arm Cenotaph.
Welton was joined by legion life member Lawrence Williams, in the Memories Legacy Project in 2008 when the memories of 137 area Veterans were recorded.
Williams and Welton were the first to receive the branch’s Legion Service Award for their work on the Memories Legacy Project and restoration of the local cenotaph.
As well as Williams and Welton, there are six other life members – Ray Carlow, John Kohuch, Wendy O’Sullivan, Ralph Owens and Dorothy Sewell. Also a life member, Dianne Kersey passed away in September.
Today, the legion continues to improve the lives of veterans, including those serving in the Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP, and their families.
Members of both services, as well as air and army cadets, members of guiding and scouting will join legion members in this year’s Remembrance Day parade to the cenotaph, which departs from the legion at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 11.
