EDMONTON- After nearly being forced to shut its doors earlier this year, the Strathcona branch of the Royal Canadian Legion celebrated its successes Saturday night.
About 150 people came together at south Edmonton’s only Legion for a night of dancing, drinks and live music.
“This is something we look forward to. I look forward to it every week,” said Cathy Claughton who attended the celebration with her mother and stepfather. “It’s like Cheers, you come and everybody knows you and you just have a sense of family.”
But Claughton wasn’t always so optimistic about her time at the Legion. In May, faced with financial troubles, the Legion was nearly forced to closed its doors for good.
“We were paying $15,000 a month rent and we couldn’t afford it,” said Legion President Bob Power.
The Strathcona Legion opened its doors on Calgary Trail, just south of Whyte Avenue, in the summer of 1944. In 2003, forced to relocate from its historical building by low membership and rising costs, the Strathcona Legion moved into its current location on the corner of 91st Street and 51st Avenue.
Refusing to let the Legion close, members banded together to fundraise. And with the help of a local band, the Legion raised $7,000 in one night.
“We did an event with them to help them kind of bring it out, see if they could stay open and it was very successful,” said lead singer of Flat Broke, Bonni MacDonald.
- Canada’s dental plan has officially kicked in. Who is eligible?
- Mandatory breath samples now required in every Toronto-area traffic stop: OPP
- Tories grill Liberals in question period about minister’s ties to lobbyist, PPE company
- N.S. mother ‘in shock’ after enduring 17-hour hospital wait with sick baby
“It’s just not new to the Strathcona Legion to have dwindling membership, it’s right across Canada. So when our relationship started with them in May we realized that it’s an important thing to keep going,” added drummer Wade Sorochan.
The momentum of the event, plus leasing out the other half of the building the Legion rents, got the organization back on its feet.
“Flat Broke has probably brought us together more than anything else, for all the people that are in here right now,” said Power. “They’ve helped us out 100 per cent and they’re for the veteran and that’s why they’re here.”
Flat Broke played at the party Saturday night. Those in attendance say they’re overjoyed the Legion will remain open, as it’s an important part of Canada’s history.
“I was so afraid it was going to close and it would have been a real loss so when they get crowds like this it’s good for the community, it’s good for the people, it’s good for their families. It’s really great,” said Claughton.
“It’s fun. You meet lots of people and we enjoy ourselves,” adder her mother. “This is all like one family. The people, it doesn’t matter when you come, you always find the people, they’re very friendly.”
With files from Shannon Greer, Global News.
Comments