Province gives financial aid to legion, other groups
Legions facing revenue shortages
With Remembrance Day looming, the provincial government announced Friday the creation of a new Legion and ANAVETS Support Program that will provide funding grants to Royal Canadian Legion branches and Army, Navy, Air Force Veterans (ANAVETS) units in Saskatchewan.
“This grant program will assist with the important work of supporting veterans and keeping the memory of our fallen heroes,” the province said in a news release.
“It’s our turn to support our veterans who have served and put everything on the line,” Premier Scott Moe said in the release announcing the $100,000 program.
Several legions have been struggling financially, including the one located in Regina, as membership declines and revenues drop.
Last month, the Leader-post told the story of the legion in Regina turning to Gofundme after falling on tough times, forcing it to dip into savings to keep its doors open.
“The Royal Canadian Legion, Regina Branch 001 has come to a point in our history where we need to reach out to the public and ask for help,” reads the first line in a Gofundme page launched on Oct. 15. Established in 1926, RCL Branch 001 was Canada’s first chartered legion.
“Our Regina legion, like many others across this great country, have fallen on some tough times. An aging population and the loss of veterans from the First World War and World War II have left us depleted over the years,” it added.
The campaign was created by Jody Hoffman, the legion’s operations manager. If the legion had to close its doors, “there would be no place for the veterans to come when they do need help,” Hoffman said in an interview last month.
The government program will be implemented as part of the 2019-20 budget and offer support to Legion branches and ANAVETS units in their efforts to serve veterans and community members throughout the province.
“We look forward to this provincial investment to ensure long-term support for our existing veteran services,” Saskatchewan Legion executive director Chad Wagner said in the release. “The Legion provides veterans and active members with services relating to mental health, securing benefits, service dogs, athletic programs, and homelessness assistance.”
As not-for-profit memberbased organizations, legions advocate for and serve veterans, active members of the Canadian Armed Forces, RCMP, and their families. Members provide services in their communities, free of charge.
In addition to providing fraternity for veterans, ANAVETS units in Canada are also mandated to maintain and operate clubs, museums, homes and meeting places for the benefit of veterans and Canada’s war history.
The provincial government will be working with the Legion and ANAVETS to determine where this funding will be most effective, and it will release details on the application process in the coming months.