Video by Julianna Murray
By Sarah Tomlinson
Despite public health restrictions, Canadian Legion branches are still finding ways to celebrate Remembrance Day.
Jeff Ankenmann, the president of legion Branch 101 in Toronto, said his branch will be hosting a five-minute outdoor ceremony with a maximum of 25 people “to ensure that we don’t forget those that came before us, those that have fought to give us the privileges that we have today.”
Before the pandemic, he said his branch would have 300 to 400 people on Remembrance Day. However, due to public health restrictions, the branch is closed on Remembrance day.
“This pandemic is an annoyance from a business perspective and from a personal perspective but we’re working through it and we’re adapting.” he said. “I’m feeling comfortable that our branch has set itself up with the help of the community, through the help of its members, through generous donations to have funds to allow us to get through this closure.”
Cindy Stumme is the president of Branch 003 in Manitoba. She said 4,000 people usually attend her branch’s ceremony.
“This year it’s going to be a very small, private service that’s going to be held in a banquet hall at the branch. It’s going to be televised by WCGtv, so on the local channels here in Manitoba. So, anybody really can attend virtually,” she said.
Ankenmann said that with the onset of the pandemic, his branch had to close on March 16 and didn’t open until August 7. When the government announced the transition to phase 2 on Oct.9, the branch had to close again. During the time it was open, he said it lost 60 per cent of its revenue.
“Overall, from March 16 to today, we’re down 90 per cent,” he said.
Likewise, Stumme said her branch is down $300,000 in revenue compared to last year.
Nevertheless, the branches have found ways to adapt financially.
Ankenmann said his members produced non-medical cotton masks and were able to make $15,000 on Canada Day by selling them at the branch.
In addition, he said the branch lowered the indoor temperature to reduce heating costs during its closure.
“We saved some money by allowing the building to get down to about 52 degrees. We were lucky enough that the winter wasn’t that bad that it allowed us to do that,” he said.
The branch also used government grants, like the wage supplement, to fund their employees’ salaries, he said.
Donna Sampson is the president of Branch 643 in Toronto. She said a large component of the veterans’ funds come from the poppy campaign. In previous years, veterans would sell poppies in stores. However, for safety reasons, the branch has decided to leave poppy boxes in many stores for the cashiers to sell.
She said it is unfortunate that veterans will not be the ones selling them.
“People like to see the veterans out there. They like to stop and chat with them,” she said.
Branches also had to adjust logistically when they reopened.
Ankenmann said his branch gets most of its money from hosting events like weddings or union meetings at their clubhouse. When it opened on August 7, the branch hosted smaller events with a maximum of 50 people.
“We reduced hours on those days substantially compared to what we used to. We operated until the next closure,” he said.
In addition, he said the branch was no longer able to serve large amounts of food and clients weren’t allowed to bring their own food.
Normally, Branch 003 was booked a year in advance, Stumme said. “We had weddings. We hosted the largest bingo in Brandon every Thursday night. We would do special fundraising events. Bake sales, kraft sales and garage sales. It was always busy,” she said.
Although the branch hasn’t been able to open their banquet hall, which Stumme said was their “bread and butter,” their lounge has reduced its hours.
The closures have had an impact on the legion’s veterans, according to Sampson.
“They really wanna talk because they’re pretty much isolated in their homes,” she said.
Sampson said members have kept in contact with them virtually.
Similarly, Stumme said her branch’s executive members have helped veterans get to doctor’s appointments.
“The Brandon community is really good at stepping up and supporting the Royal Canadian Legion, and they see us as a big part of the community here in Brandon. There’s a lot of moral support going on there,” she said.
Nonetheless, the branch still has a huge financial concern. She hopes that the government will help legions out like it has the rest of the country.
“If there’s any coppers left in the bottom of that bucket, I sure hope that they take a look at not just the legion, but some of these organizations that are really trying to support the communities that we live in at a grass-root level,” she said. “We’re not at the top of the priority list. I just hope that we’re not at the very bottom or forgotten.”
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