The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command LEST WE FORGET 147 The Speers Legion Branch 116 was granted its charter on October 24, 1928. Its purpose was to safeguard the welfare of ex-service persons and their families. The charter members were: John Symonds, Claude Radley, Leonard Noakes, Percy Simmonds, William G. Scott, Ed Gregor, Ted Foster, Cecil Campbell, Clarence Lindsay, Harry Layman, Walter Pope and George Linnell. The original Legion hall was situated south of the present Post Office on Main Street. It had been the first Speers School. It was used for social and small gatherings, and Legion meetings were also held there. On May 8th, 1945 V.E. Day, a social was held in the Scott Hall. The register was signed by sixty-three guests and ten Legion members. The Executive consisted of the following members. Arthur Marjoram, William Scott, Fred Fasnacht. Members included were Louis Senum, Ted Foster, Charles Archibald, A.P. Pym, Harold Ashcroft, Walter Pope and Ernest Auckland. In 1946, a New Year’s Novelty dance was sponsored by the Legion. Admission was 50 cents for ladies and 76 cents for men. The net profits were donated to the Hafford Union Hospital for the purchase of hospital equipment on March 2, 1947 at the regular United Church service. In Speers, an honour roll was unveiled as a tribute to over fifty persons from the Speers Community who served in the armed services. Then on November 11, 1947, a Remembrance Day Service was held in the Scott Hall at 11:00 a.m., followed by a program at 8 p.m., and a dance with a total admission of 75 cents per adult. In December 1947, final arrangements were made to purchase the Scott Hall with a name change to Legion Memorial Hall for a cash payment of $1500.00. In 1948, Comrade Ronald McKeen held the office of President until 1950. After vacating his position, he was elected treasurer and held this position for twenty years. Comrade Bill Flint, the remaining Life Member since 1994, held the position of President from 1973-1983. Elected in 1983 were: Treasurer, John Kindrachuk; and Secretary, Genevieve Russell. The late Comrade Stanley Dove was President from 1984 to 1987. Comrade Margaret Strautman was President from 1989-90. The late Bill Langley was President from 1991-1992, and Treasurer Comrade Margaret Strautman, followed by Helen Kindrachuk from 20012005. Late Comrade James Marjoram held the following positions: Zone Commander, District Commander and Provincial Command Vice President, Provincial 1st Vice President and Provincial President. The 2006 Branch 116 Executive is: President Comrade Roland Pelletier, 1993-2006; Treasurer Mitch Bomok; Secretary Genevieve Russell, 1983-2006. 2006 membership stands at 40 members. Our membership chairperson is Jean Pelletier. Branch No. 116 still takes an active part in the Remembrance Day Service at the Hafford Communiplex. The Branch also continues to sponsor the Legion Literary and Poster competitions. Hafford School students Grades 1-12 enter these competitions. The Branch provides certificates and monetary prizes for winners in all categories. We also sponsor two students entering the Track and Field program. Donations are sent to the Telemiracle, Paraplegic Association, as well as the Speers Seniors Centre for the use of their building for Legion meetings. The members of Legion Branch 116 respect and follow the Legion rituals, and follow the Legion manual to the best of their ability, and are hoping to keep their Branch active in years to come. SPEERS BRANCH 116 The Canadian Legion North Portal Branch No. 117 was chartered under the British Empire Service League on October 23, 1928, shortly after the end of World War I. Charter members were Mr. Coller, Mr. Mossopp, Mr. Nielsen, Mr. Elliott, Mr. Brownlow, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Menzies, Dr. Parker, Mr. Erwin, Mr. Teeter and Mr. Bradley. Having organized without the facilities of a hall, meetings and other functions were held by this Branch at various locations such as the Portal Odd Fellows Hall, the United Church Hall, Minto School and the Grand View Hotel lobby. During this period, memorial services were conducted at the site of the present Cenotaph. In October of 1932 (as near as can be established), the North Portal Branch bought two lots from the village. They paid around three hundred dollars for the original Customs House from the Canadian Pacific Railroad. An additional seventy dollars was required for moving equipment and the expenses of two local farmers who loaned their tractors to move the building. Branch members, assisted by Arthur Daley, Harry Olsen and Reid Lyall, moved the building to its present location. Remodeling and repairs to the new hall followed and they held their first function, a Bridge party, in the new building on December 12, 1932. During WWII, Zone representative Mr. Worrel of the Bienfait Branch, at a joint meeting with the North Portal Branch, gave the North Portal Ladies’ Legion Auxiliary full authority to conduct and manage the business of the Legion. They continued to do so until such time as the service men returned to once again replenish membership. NORTH PORTAL BRANCH 117 (Cont’d...)
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