The West Van Legion

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 249 is searching for money to buy a new commuter shuttle van in Houston.

His new van is in line for renovation, acquired by neighborhood partners.

The van dates back to 2016, when the Legion started to give veterans and seniors a free shuttle service, at a nominal expense to others.

But now that the Legion is expected to replace the car, two currency systems are being applied for the necessary funds, says Legion Secretary Joanne Woodbeck.

At the same time, after COVID-19, this spring’s pandemic the legion requested the Houston District to cover $5,400 for higher than average shuttle prices.

“These funds will enable us to continue to provide our seniors who live within our community with this essential service,” Legion President Don Woodbeck wrote in an appeal letter to the council.

He observed that demand for passenger travel has more than doubled since the beginning of mid-March compared to last year.

Each month, the Legion offers on average 90 drives for veterans, including medical appointments, induction orders and meal pick-ups.

And since March, the Legion has also supported a few low-income families to ensure that they access medical products and other important resources without being able to leave home.

Until now the Legion has been able to hold the operation without help from outside.

Other residents can use the service for $5 to cover the driver and a $5 to cover shuttle running costs as well as a free services for veterans and older people who choose to fly within the Houston District limits.

The Legion provides two drivers, handling nights, days and weekends.

The Legion application comes at a time when a wider COVID-19 grant awarded to the provincial government is being used to offset pandemic expenses by the District worth $100,000.

The launching of the 2020 Royal Canadian Legion National Poppy Campaign is marked innovatively with a pilot project to introduce new touchless donation boxes as well as the lighting of iconic landmarks in Canada. Millions of poppies will be distributed in both familiar and new locations across the country.

Thomas D. Irvine, CD, Dominion President of The Royal Canadian Legion, said that they would have more than thirty important partners this year, and traditional donation boxes at 25,000 locations. While they have had to make some changes due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there are several ways to donate and they are hopeful Canadians will respond as generously as they have always done.

A significant change will introduce new touchless donation boxes in cooperation with HSBC Bank Canada and there will be 250 Pay Tribute boxes across Canada, including in several Ontario Legion Branches, in most HSBC Bank branches, and in some select retail locations as well. The boxes will accept touchless donations without fee in two-dollar increments. Donors can take a lapel poppy they choose from the box, as they would from a traditional box.

In addition to traditional and electronic Pay Tribute boxes, donors can also donate online via Legion.ca. It is one of the Legion National Foundation’s projects.

Irvine added that Canadians showed a tremendous amount of gratitude each year and their fallen Veterans sacrificed for their freedoms and they would always be remembered by the others. Canadians support the Legion’s critical work through donations to the campaign in order to help make sure the well-being of serving Veterans. And they thanked them for their generosity.

The ceremonial start of the National Poppy Campaign for this year was held on October 16, with Julie Payette, Governor-General of Canada, accepting the First Poppy from Dominion President Thomas D. Irvine.

Funds donated across the country during the 2020 National Poppy Campaign are used to support Veterans and their families. Funds donated locally will stay local.

This year’s National Poppy Campaign of the Royal Canadian Legion has presented the first poppy to Her Excellency the Right Honorable Julie Payette, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada. A virtual presentation has been held in the traditional ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thomas D. Irvine, CD, the Legion’s D0ominion President, presented the flower with words of thanks that veterans both past and present appreciate her personal engagement and her example would be followed by millions in both Canada and abroad all would take comfort in that symbolic act, and through the support for their Veterans shown by Canadians.

As The Royal Canadian Legion’s Viceregal Patron, Payette accepted the symbolic poppy and showed her support for the National Poppy Campaign this year.

She said that the campaign this year looks different for sure, but the intent was still the same and was still as noble. She also shared they had to support their veterans, as they supported the organization during challenging points in its history. Payette’s Excellency reflected her admiration for all Veterans who have served the country. She thanked to them for all they had done and have been doing for Canada as well as thanked to all Canadians for having supported the National Poppy Campaign.

The Legion’s National Poppy Campaign launches on the last Friday in October every year, and will start on October 30 this year.

According to Vice Admiral (Ret’d) Larry Murray, Legion Grand President, the 2020 poppy also remind of the special significance of 75th anniversary of the end of the World War II and amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Remembrance also reminds us that Canada has been through even more challenging times than they are experiencing now.

Funds locally donated during the National Poppy Campaign are locally distributed to help support Veterans and their families, communities, as well as to promote Remembrance.

Curling Canada has announced the cancellation of six more curling championships events that were planned for the next year due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Curling Canada’s press release on Thursday, the events including the Continental Cup, the New Holland Canadian Junior, the Canadian Under-18 Championships, Under-21 championships, the Canadian Under 15 RockFest, the Wheelchair Championship, and the Collegiate Athletic Association championships, have all been cancelled and won’t be rescheduled to be held later in the season.

The organization said that the decision to cancel those events was made with the aim of ensuring the safety of the participants, fans, volunteers. Other reasons include the travel restrictions and the cost of running the events with the restrictions that are caused by the world health crisis.

The chief executive officer of Curling Canada, Katherine Henderson, said in a statement that they considered all options, but in the end, they had to make the responsible decision for the athletes, for the volunteers, and for the organization, to guarantee the safety of those involved in the events as well as the viability of the sport in the whole country.

The organization added that a significant reason to cancel the Continental Cup was because of the fact that international teams might have not been able to participate.

Championships scheduled in the 2020-2021 season consisting of the Tim Hortons Brier Canadian men’s championship in Kelowna, B.C., the Scotties Tournament of Hearts Canadian women’s championship in Thunder Bay, Ont., the World Men’s Curling Championship in Ottawa (remaining on the schedule), the Home Hardware Canada Cup in Fredericton, N.B., and the Canadian Mixed Doubles Championship (remaining scheduled to go forward).

Sportsnet has also already trimmed its six-stop Grand Slam of Curling circuit to two events this season due to the deadly virus.

The Ontario government will invest $83 million to support Royal Canadian Legion branches, non-profit organizations when the province reopens after months of shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The investment from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) will see grants of $150,000 awarded to organizations that are looking to deliver vital programming to their communities amid the world health crisis.

Dubbed the Resilient Communities Fund, eligible non-profit organizations will be supported to navigate the impacts of the pandemic such as strategic planning, organizational training, research and development, mental and physical health resources as well.

The government says the fund will also help non-profit organizations to improve their ability to access and develop new and alternative revenues sources, including seeking public-private partnerships and developing fundraising plans.

Additionally, the fund will allow non-profits to adapt or reimagine the delivery of their programs and services to their communities and to adhere to the province’s public health restrictions. Moreover, according to the government, organizations may be eligible for the procurement of equipment and renovations in order to respond to the challenges caused by the virus.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford told reports on Wednesday that Legion halls not only lead them in honoring their heroes, but they also do incredible work in their communities, educating their younger people, provide services to veterans and their families, and give back to their communities in so many ways.

Lisa MacLeod, Minister of heritage, sport, tourism, and culture industries was also on hand for the announcement and said the government acknowledges how difficult the COVID-19 pandemic has been for Ontario’s non-profits.

He added that from loss of revenue due to the canceled fundraisers to the disruption of services to community members, they know that the pandemic has made it difficult for the sector to continue operating. That’s the reason why they are taking action to support initiatives like the Resilient Communities Fund making such a positive contribution to communities across Ontario during this hard time.

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War Memorial Committee – 1925

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The West Van Legion

The Royal Canadian Legion search for a new shuttle Van

2020 Royal Canadian Legion National Poppy Campaign is Launched

Royal Canadian Legion presents first poppy to Governor General and Commander-in-Chief Julie Payette

Curling Canada announces cancellation of six 2021 championship event due to Covid-19 pandemic

Ontario to invest $83 million to support Royal Canadian Legion branches

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