The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command LEST WE FORGET 149 After WWII, a ‘Welcome Home Party’ was held for the servicemen of the area. The North Portal Branch was reorganized during 1946-47. In the late 1980s, the old Legion Hall was shut down and meetings moved to the North Portal Community Hall. The Branch continues to rent a small room for items and can use the hall for their activities. A Golf Tournament and different fundraisers are put on throughout the year. At present, there are 36 members: Shaun Briscoe, Cathy Davis, Gary Ear, Ron Earl, Neil Hirnmelspeck, Dave MacDonald, J.E. Mckimm, Andy Pukas, Greg Skoczylas, Sylvia Skoczylas, Brenda Strong, Patricia Thompson, Joy Vancuren, Kevin Vancuren, Joe Yurkowski, Brad Burnett, Ross Dunbar, Mark Ermel, Ian MacDonald, Delmer Quewezance, Tim Skoczylas, Philip Thompson, Dean Vodden, Kelsey Trott, Greg Amott, Larry Dunbar, Trent Hildebrand, Scott MacDonald, Adrian Schindel, Wes Skoczylas, Toban Tisdale, Lori Wurtz, and Kristin Trott. The Branch is proud to have three Veterans as members: Russell Earl, Mac Dunbar, and John Paul Skoczylas Ladies’ Auxiliary to North Portal Branch 117 The North Portal Ladies' Auxiliary to the Royal Canadian Legion was organized on March 16, 1929, with ten women present. The first meeting was held on March 20th at which time dues of one dollar were paid. It was not until April 20, 1931 that they received their charter. Charter members were: Mesdames Teeter, Parker, Bennett, Brownlow, Davis, Elliot, Menzies, Nielsen, Mossopp, and Miss Chadwick. The war years were busy ones. They had a sweater knit for every local young man, and all relatives of members, who joined the Armed Forces. In addition, they sent food parcels at Christmas and Easter, when possible. In between, they sent cigarettes and chocolates. The Legion membership had fallen so low during the war years that they could not hold meetings. In August 1944, the Zone Representative of the Legion called a joint meeting of the Legion Auxiliary, and it was decided that they would conduct and manage any new business of the Legion, together with Mr. Brownlow as a councilor of the Legions, until they were again able to hold meetings. The Ladies’ Auxiliary history has changed little in recent years. They support local youth activities, contribute to a high school bursary every year and assist the Legion. Membership is now at nine members: Bonnie Pukas, Norma Barber, Doreen Maxwell, Jan Dunbar, Marion Milne, Betty MacDonald, Jane Dunbar, Betty Baniulis, and Dorthy Fuchs. NORTH PORTAL BRANCH 117 (...Cont’d) The first association of war Veterans in Gull Lake was "The Great War Veteran's Association of Canada” founded in 1919, and the first Memorial Day Service was held in Gull Lake on November 9th of that year at the Lyceum Theatre. Charter Officers were: F.J. Badge, President; C.C. Barker, First VicePresident; P. Stockdale, Second Vice-President; J.R. Broley, Secretary/Treasurer; C.M. Martin, Sergeant-at-arms; Executive Members- H.E. Harris, D.C. Lochead, A.E. Woodward, S. Hendrickson and N. Robson. The Association merged with the newly formed Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service League in1926, which in later years became the Royal Canadian Legion. The activities of the Branch in the early years were mainly confined to Poppy Day and Remembrance Day Services on November 11th; a service has not been missed to this day. During these years, meetings were held at the members’ homes and businesses. When World War II began, the Gull Lake Legion Branch, like other Branches across Canada, became involved in many activities to assist the war effort. The Canadian Legion War Services Fund came into being. In 1943, sixty-eight copies of the Legion Magazine were purchased and sent overseas to service personal from the area. After the end of the World War II, the Branch was mainly concerned with the general welfare of ex-service personal and their families until 1947 when the club's role switched to become more involved with community events and services. In 1960, the Legion helped the "Booster Club" to operate the town swimming pool, and in 1962 they took over full responsibility until 1979 when a new pool was built. In 1947, a building committee was formed to obtain a Legion Hall; suitable buildings were not available until 1963 when the Legion purchased the Dama School from the Gull Lake School Unit. With the Legion needing almost all of its funds to operate the pool, it was difficult to finish the Legion Hall. The membership donated twenty-five dollars each, and ten members made $100.00 interest-free loans to complete the hall. The Legion Ladies’ Auxiliary was formed in 1970, which was extremely beneficial for the club, providing an extra hand in the activities. GULL LAKE BRANCH 119
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