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90 years young, with an ongoing mission (5 photos)

Not just an old soldiers club, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 celebrated its 90th anniversary over the weekend; invites public to join as new members

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 celebrated its 90th anniversary over the weekend.

The birthday bash, organized by Legion officers (all volunteers), was attended by Legion members, family and friends, along with Sault Mayor Christian Provenzano, Sault MPP Ross Romano and Sault MP Terry Sheehan.

Wilma Oliver, Branch 25 president, cut a 90th anniversary cake for attendees to enjoy.

In 2017, Branch 25 celebrated the 50th anniversary of its present building, located at 96 Great Northern Road.

Local history buffs will appreciate Branch 25 was originally located on the second floor of a building on Queen Street that stood on the location of the former Woolco store.

Branch 25 can trace its roots to Apr. 12, 1928, when the local branch of the Great War Veterans Association (GWVA) received its charter and became part of the Canadian Legion of the British Empire Services League.

The prefix ‘Royal’ was conferred by Queen Elizabeth II in 1961 to all Canadian Legion branches.

The Ladies Auxiliary of Branch 25, a tremendous asset to the local Legion over the decades, first came into being as The Ladies Auxiliary of the British Empire Services League Jan. 11, 1927 and worked under that charter on behalf of Branch 25.

In Apr. 1999, they received a new charter and became Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25’s Ladies Auxiliary.

In 1972, the Legion changed course for its future, allowing spouses and children of veterans to become members.

Now, one doesn’t have to be a veteran, or related to a veteran, to join the Legion.

“We want the public to know we’re here,” said Wilma Oliver, Branch 25 president, speaking to SooToday in a recent interview, the Legion looking for new members.

“We’re reaching out to the young, they are our future,” Oliver said.

The Legion is also currently looking for new band members.

The Legion’s ongoing mission is to be a service club primarily dedicated to caring for veterans and their families, but its charitable efforts have benefited several community organizations and causes, such as youth education programs (including public speaking contests) and track and field and sports programs (which the Legion will pay for, in part).

The Legion’s building at 96 Great Northern Road has much to offer.

The two-story building’s lower floor includes a lounge and TV sets, pool tables and dart boards, a boardroom for meetings, space for dances and music nights, an impressive Canadian military history museum and a library of military history books available for sign out.

The second storey consists of a large banquet hall, which may be used for weddings, wedding receptions, dances and other special occasions (with a full kitchen in which food is prepared by Branch 25’s Ladies Auxiliary), and also serves as home to a darts league and to the Legion’s band as a practice space.


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Darren Taylor

About the Author: Darren Taylor

Darren Taylor is a news reporter and photographer in Sault Ste Marie. He regularly covers community events, political announcements and numerous board meetings. With a background in broadcast journalism, Darren has worked in the media since 1996.
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