The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command LEST WE FORGET 275 In 1982, it was decided to raise funds to purchase the former theatre building for use as a Legion Hall. In 1985, the Jubilee Year, Ponteix Legion presented a Jubilee Medal to Comrade George Cyrenne for all the contributions he had made to our Legion. The Jubilee year was also marked by the sale of 1800 tulip bulbs from Holland, a Zone Rally and a grasshopper festival with grasshopper races. Over the years, Ponteix Legion made its presence known by supporting many worthwhile activities, such as suppers and fun days for senior citizens, an annual Christmas Party for children put on in conjunction with the town, bursaries to high school graduates, donations to the CNIB, Telemiracle, Home Care, and Southwest Regional Games in Ponteix. Many former Legion members no longer living in the area returned for the Mortgage Burning party on November 7th, 1986. The Branch is sponsored by volunteer workers. We now sponsor students going for further education and several community programs receive help from this Legion Branch, such as the Twinkle Tour at Christmas, DARE Program at the school, Kidney Foundation and our Saskatchewan Telemiracle Foundation. PONTEIX BRANCH 297 (...Cont’d) The first meeting of Fillmore Branch, Canadian Legion of B.E.S.L., was held in the Municipal Council Chamber on April 27, 1946. Present at the meeting were members from the Weyburn Branch. K. Laing, Zone Representative, chaired the meeting. Officers were elected as follows: R. Kerr, President; Maurice Treble, Vice-President; Ray Pollock, Sergeant-at-Arms; W.S. Seaman, Secretary/Treasurer; and Ben Tollefson, Ken Ogden, and Lockie Scott, Executive members. K. Laing installed officers. R. Kerr then chaired the meeting. An annual fee of $5.00 per member was to be paid. Meetings were to be held on the second Tuesday of every month at 8:00 p.m. The following members were then initiated: Len Dodd, D.B. Doney, L.G. Doney, A.H. Hofmeister, Duncan Hunter, Gordon Johnston, Robert Kerr, Peter Mackie, Donald MacLean, Kenzie MacLean, Maurice Treble, Alex Mitchell, Kenneth Ogden, Mel Ogden, Ray Pollock, R.H. Struthers, C.A. Robertson, Lockie Scott, William Seaman, A.B. Stewart, and Frank Tippett. The Fillmore Branch #299 received their Charter on July 30, 1946. When the Memorial Hall was built, a Clubroom in the basement was given to the Legion. Presentation was made at the official opening of the hall on February 9, 1949. Legion projects were as follows: held dances, carnivals, operated the picture shows on Saturday nights; furnished a ward and continued to maintain in the new hospital in 1949; maintain beach and picnic area at Gooseberry Lake for a number of years; assisted in training youth for Track & Field, and sponsored youth to camps; ran a concession booth at the Creelman Fair; the Color Party participated in local events and preceded the Legion float at Creelman Fair; sponsored card parties for seniors, complete with prizes; presented scholarships to local schools; provided assistance to Veterans and families when in need, i.e., Christmas parcels, clothing, blankets; contributed to many charities; fully supported the Poppy Fund by the sale of poppies and donations from businesses where wreaths were displayed; promoted youth awareness of Remembrance Day, through Poems, Posters and Essays contests from Zone to Dominion, with plaques and monetary gifts to winners; take part every year on November 11th alternating between Creelman and Fillmore - wreaths and poppies are laid and Veterans address schools prior to November 11th, plus conduct services at schools and the Health Centre; sponsored students attending Cadets and Encounter Canada; donated to the Hall Board; FILLMORE BRANCH 299 L to R: Gordon Johnston, Trevor Forbes, Willie Carnegie, Cpl. Nick Smyth, Elaine Wightman, Mary Jones, Doreen Carnegie (Cont’d...)
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