The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command Commemorative History Booklet 298 Members of The Royal Canadian Legion Nutana Branch #362 always remember their solemn oath and obligation to remember those who fought and died for Canada. LADIES’ AUXILIARY TO NUTANA BRANCH 362 The Ladies’ Auxiliary received their charter in 1957. Wives of the Branch members gathered together in their homes for meetings and to organize an Auxiliary. The men had purchased the small Bethel Church on 5th Street, and were in great need of money. Meetings were then held in the basement of the church. It wasn't long before they had a slate of officers with Doris Taylor as 1st President. It wasn't long until they had a number of women with young families all eager to help in the fun and for the worthy cause - The Branch. The ladies started with absolutely nothing, so had to work hard and often by having teas, bake sales, selling lunch for dances, and selling Watkins Vanilla. They purchased their first coffee urn, which was a real treat, after making coffee in boilers. The ladies managed to put the first Auxiliary Cook Book together in 1961, and sold many copies. As work went on, they were then able to buy two flags - The Auxiliary flag and the Union Jack. They had a tea and a dedication service with Reverend Don Brown officiating. The members donated dishes and cutlery and whatever else they were not using. The kitchen began to take shape. A member’s father built cupboards, and then it didn't take long to purchase a set of dishes and cutlery. By this time, the ladies felt they were in line to do some catering. Many happy times were had by all, as the ladies prepared dinners on November 11th, celebrated Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and parties for the children. With all the ladies’ activities, the men decided that the hall was too small to accommodate functions, so they sold it. They were then left with finding a new home base. The meetings began in members’ homes, St. James Hall or J. S. Wood Library. They worked once a week at the Red Cross making thousands and thousands of wipes and swabs for the blood donor clinic. They usually held the executive meetings at the same time. The ladies really had to work hard now, as the Branch was having a new hall built on McEown and Louise. To raise money, they catered for the Horticultural Show. They sold homemade pies and coffee. They helped the men with the concessions at the stock car races on 8th Street. They had a tent and trailer at Pioneer on 11th Street West, selling pancakes, sausages and coffee. They sold tickets on a boat and trailer. They had a hamburger stand at the Exhibition, and they catered to a number of weddings and parties, etc. They also worked at the Citizens' Court, serving lunch and welcoming new citizens to Canada. The ladies assisted the Branch with selling poppies, attending services at the old Cenotaph downtown, located at 2nd Avenue and 21st Street. Things were much easier after they moved into the Tacquet Ball Court building on Louise Street. Gert Devlin, Eleanor Macleod, and Viola Cairns have compiled some highlights of some of the unique activities that the Ladies’ Auxiliary have done over the years: in 1978, the ladies formed an honor guard for Queen Elizabeth II; they served evening lunches to Veterans at the Veterans’ Home; they hosted bingo; do the March birthday parties every year; assist in the craft room; assist with outings for the Veterans; deliver birthday cards to shut-in members both at Easter and Christmas. Some of the fun things that the ladies have done over the years are curling at the Sutherland Rink every Sunday during the winter months; put on skits for the Veterans, Auxiliary, Branch, Zone and Dominion; held cribbage tournaments, zone dart tournaments, and retirement parties for Zone and District Reps.; celebrated their 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, and now their 50th Anniversaries. Over the years, they have donated money to the Branch, the Veterans Comfort Fund, bursaries, Last Post Fund, Friendship Inn, Salvation Army, Crisis Center, Ronald McDonald House, St. Paul’s, City Hospital, and Royal University Hospital. Toys are donated to Secret Santa each year, as well as food donations to the Food Bank. The Ladies’Auxiliary had twenty-two charter members in 1957. Today, there are one hundred and twenty members in the Ladies’ Auxiliary and more keep joining. The ladies are still going strong with their banquets, which enable them to make donations to some of the above charities, as well as others over the years. They are proud to be the Ladies’Auxiliary to Nutana Branch 362 of The Royal Canadian Legion. NUTANA BRANCH 362 (Cont’d...)
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