Submitted by Brian McHattie
On a beautiful, warm winter day, 30+ members of the Men’s Breakfast community came together to listen to our feature speaker, Sean Hurst, 1st Vice-President of the Royal Canadian Legion, Tobermory Branch 290. Sean provided some history on this venerable Canadian institution with its roots in supporting veterans from the Great War and Korea, but also explained how the Legion is building on that legacy to become a strong community support organisation.
The Legion and its related organisation, the Ladies Auxiliary were there to support World War I and II veterans returning from Europe and the Asian theatre suffering with post-traumatic distress syndrome before that phenomenon was officially recognised. Today, the Legion continues to support veterans and their families with challenges faced in old age, financing for veteran’s hospitals, transportation needs, and most recently purchasing several guide dogs for members suffering visual impairments.
The Tobermory branch has a new focus on connecting with school children, sponsoring a healthy breakfast and lunch program and a public speaking contest designed to spur learning about veteran’s issues and encourage important verbal communication skills.
Some were surprised to learn that the Tobermory branch has 200 members and is actively recruiting new members to support both their operating costs and philanthropic endeavours (mainly through the Poppy Fund). What was once a private member organisation is now open to the general public and you can join for a reasonable $45 annual fee which supports operating costs that go into organising community breakfasts and evening dances (also known locally as ‘Club L’ !). Next time you visit you’ll see the beginning of a new walkway off the Legion Street parking lot courtesy of the Municipality – things are happening at the Tobermory Legion!
Note that our next meeting is Saturday March 28 at the Tobermory Community Centre. Our speaker is Jose Rodriguez from And-Rod Construction who will speak about the construction industry and how it has changed Tobermory. Breakfast is served at 9am, with coffee ready by 8am. Breakfast is $10 by tickets purchased at the door. For more information, please contact Brian McHattie: 289-684-3895 or brian.mchattie@outlook.com.
