If it’s happening in Sicamous, there’s a good chance it will be happening at the legion.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch #99 has long been a hub of social activity in the community, but its new president, Chris Wilson says the legion is working with the district and other groups to play a bigger role in annual community events returning this year.
“We’re going to join in and help the District of Sicamous celebrate Canada Day this year by putting on some major events,” said Wilson “We’re going to basically go hand-in-hand with the recreation centre with the car show, the hockey event I guess they have here, we’re going to bring in a big band later in the evening and put on a really big show – try to make us memorable and inviting to the community.”
This year’s Summer Stomp is also on the legion’s radar, and Wilson says the legion is working with the district’s recreation programmer Jamie Sherlock on the role it will play.
“And, to kind of push off into the fall, we’re looking at Lobsterfest,” adds Wilson. “We’re just basically going to have a lot of good times and have people want to be here a lot more and understand what the legion’s all about.”
A firefighter of 21 years, 15 of those with the Sicamous department, as well as a member of the Eagle Valley Rescue Society, Wilson was sworn in as legion president in January. The 38-year-old fire captain suspects he may be one of the youngest legion presidents in the province.
“I have no idea but I have a pretty good feeling I’m one of the youngest legion presidents there is – but I’m sure if somebody dug around they could probably find somebody else as well,” laughs Wilson, whose presidency reflects a fairly recent transition with the legion, opening up to RCMP, firefigthers and other emergency services personnel. This extends to Remembrance Day services, which for the past two years have included Sicamous emergency responders.
“The past president, Murray Williams, asked us to come and stand at the cenotaph just to show unity with all the groups that are out there, and hopefully in next years coming up we can start adding like rescue and ambulance… they’ve also approached us asking to make sure they were part of that and we definitely want to make sure they feel they’re part of that,” said Wilson. “I think just seeing military and RCMP standing around the cenotaph is kind of a thing of the past.”
The legion building itself has also undergone some change. The wall that divided what was once termed the “smoking room,” and is now the Mara Room, from the rest of the lower floor has been removed, giving patrons more seating options with a view of the stage/dance floor.
“We needed to tear that down…,” said Wilson. “We wanted to unite the members of the legion in the same room.”
Comfortable with change and technology (Wilson has his own YouTube channel upon which he’s streaming legion events). Wilson says there are legion traditions that are integral to the legion and will continue. At the same time, he’s hoping, with some fresh ideas and a supportive executive, the legion will continue to draw a younger membership. Events are a part of this strategy.
“We still have to remember, we’re very much a club and you must basically be invited to come in,” said Wllson. “You can come with a member and they can sign you in. There’s more than enough members who want to make sure you come in, and everybody in the community knows each other so there’s no reason not to have somebody signed in… and enjoy the show.”
The Sicamous legion recently had its website updated (http://sicamouslegion.ca), where events and weekly goings-on will be posted monthly.
“You’ve got to remember (the legion) is a non-profit organization so all this money goes straight back into the community to help with people who are in need, and just organizations that also need help…,” said Wilson “The legion itself in Sicamous, is a very busy centre-point of the community.”
