The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command LEST WE FORGET 195 At the inception of the Legion in 1921, it was known as the British Empire Service League. This became the Canadian Legion British Empire Service League in 1926 or 1927, and finally The Royal Canadian Legion. Christopher Lake Legion Branch 159 received its charter on April 22, 1931. The original charter members were Clifford Lavall, John H. Weedon, Herbert Weedon, William Harris, James Swain, Peter Smith, Joseph Buckley, John Robertson, Hugh Curtis, John Towe, Harold Parrott, James McHugh, John Doyle, Raymond Fern, Harry Lake, L.G. Temple, Fredric Temple and James Weedon. The first President was Edward Doyle. The Ladies’ Auxiliary received their charter on August 26, 1936, with charter members Hilda Towe, Alice Riley, Elizabeth Lavall, Eveyln Jarvis, Charlotte M. Wilson, Grace Estella Temple, Violet Ethel Temple, Agnes N. Hamilton, Chrotona Viola Powley, Vina Gibbs Ferny, Olive McDonald, Mary Young Leona Crowe, and their first President was Hilda Towe. During the Second World War, as all but three Legion members joined the services, there were not enough members left to run the Legion business. Because of this situation, the Ladies Auxiliary took full responsibility for the Branch. This was carried from March 30, 1940 to February 15, 1946, when the ladies held a returning Veterans affair and as there were enough men to resume the responsibility for the Branch operation. In 1957, there was a decision by the community and the Legion membership to construct a new building. Comrade Robert Milligan signed a loan note and by 1966 it was paid off. There was a full community effort and at first had joint operation arrangements. It is unclear as to when the Legion took over complete responsibility for the operation of the hall but it is estimated that it has operated it since 1977. A renovation to soundproof the main hall was carried out by Mel Ross in the 1980s, and an addition of toilets was carried out about the same time. A further addition of the Memorial Room was built in 1997. The Auxiliary catered banquets, weddings, and dances, assisted the men in their activities and turned over funds to them, as well as furnished the kitchen. The Legion has a present membership of sixty members, not all whom live in the area. A number of members who moved away have kept up their memberships and live in provinces such as BC, Manitoba, North West Territories and in other cities and towns in Saskatchewan. There are currently six Life members, sixteen Regular members, twenty-five Associate members, three Affiliate voting members and one Affiliate non-voting member. Branch President is George Leybourne; Past President is Leroy Evenson; Vice-President is Gary Fox; Executive Members are Pat Taylor, Cec Mancini, Marie Markowski, Laura Anderson, Albert Stevenson, Leta Lapoint, and Edwin Bird. Sec-retary/Treasurer is Edward (Ted) Walker; Sgt.-at-Arms is Murray Smail; and Padre and Service Officer is Esther Hay. The Ladies’ Auxiliary executive is as follows: President Pauline Bird; Past-President Iris Morris; Vice-Presidents Florence Lafaver and Viki Hauch; Secretary/Treasurer, Edna Button. Executive members are Minni Patterson, Alice Marsh, Cleta McHenry, and Gusta Thorson. The Branch is obligated by its mandate to give assistance to Veterans and their dependants and to keep remembrance. In this regard, the Service Officer contacts Veterans Affairs when necessary to process matters that need to be looked after. The Branch also holds Remembrance programs at four schools and holds poster essay and poem contests each year with the students. They hold November 11th services at the hall and in Prince Albert at a seniors home. In addition, they have sports programs, weekly community bingo, fundraising bingos in Prince Albert, along with allowing groups to use the hall for their activities and rent out the hall for other meetings and events. The Branch co-sponsors the yearly Halloween party for the Community and area with the Lions Club. Occasionally, they sponsor other activities, such as plays. Funding now comes from holding bingos and renting the facility. Since 1977, costs have risen from $7,000.00 to $20,000.00 for the Branch to operate for one year. The Branch is presently debt-free. CHRISTOPHER LAKE BRANCH 159
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