HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-07-21, Page 9THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2016. PAGE 9.
Legion marks 70th with Streetfest open house
BRANCH 420
MEETS FIRST TUES.
LADIES Aux. FIRST MON.
111
I
Big changes
Thanks to a large contribution from the Enabling Accessibility Fund, the Royal Canadian
Legion Branch 420 Blyth will be able to proceed with renovations to its building including
accessibility modifications and a slight expansion. The funds, which were announced on Dec.
22 by Legion and Legion Ladies Auxiliary members and Huron -Bruce Member of Parliament
Ben Lobb, put the Legion near the funds necessary to start construction. Shown are, back row,
from left: Ladies Auxiliary Past President Janice Henry, Ladies Auxiliary Executive member
Janny Fear, Ladies Auxiliary Secretary Denise Morris, Audrey Boonstoppel, Legion First Vice -
President Ric McBurney, Lobb, Ladies Auxiliary President Brenda Finlayson, Ladies Auxiliary
First Vice -President Deb Stryker and Linda Brak. Front row, from left are: Kay Hesselwood,
Legion Executive member Thelma Johnston, Ladies Auxiliary Treasurer Val Pethick, Legion
Executive member Shirley Wood, Legion Executive member Darrell Wood and Legion
Secretary Donna Govier. (Denny Scott photo)
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
The Blyth Legion will be hosting a
special 70th anniversary come and
go party on Saturday, July 23 as part
of Streetfest to mark its years of
service.
"We'll be having an open house,"
Legion representative Crystal Taylor
said. "We're welcoming members
both past and present, dignitaries,
members of Royal Canadian Legion
Provincial Command and anyone
else who wants to come to the
Legion."
Cake and snacks will be served at
the Legion from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Taylor said, and will serve as a great
chance for people to see the
renovations to the site, including the
expanded building, completely
rebuilt upper hall and elevator for
complete accessibility.
HISTORY
Taken from Comrade John
Stewart's Royal Canadian Legion
Branch 420 History.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch
420 (Blyth) is a very important
fixture in the community and traces
its creation back to a meeting in
1946 in Borden Cook's egg grading
station, the current location of the
Blyth Variety.
The first meeting was held at
Blyth Memorial Hall on Sunday,
May 29, 1946 at 2 p.m. and it was
reported that there was "a large and
enthusiastic gathering" on hand. The
meeting was opened by Zone
Commander Comrade N.W. Miller
of Goderich. Comrade Miller called
on Comrade T.G. Scibbins,
President of the Clinton Branch,
who commenced the initiative
and 28 veterans were admitted
into the fraternity.
The Zone Commander called for
nominations of officers which
resulted in the following members
being elected:
• President Dr. C.D. Kilpatrick
• 1st Vice William Leiper
• 2nd Vice Glen Kechnie
• Secretary Howard Tait
• Treasurer Ed Wendorf
• Sgt. -At -Arms Joe Marks
• Chaplain Ivan Wightman
• Executive Albert Maddocks,
Douglas Stewart, Gordon Morrison
and Borden Cook.
The Zone Commander then
commented on the fine and alert
group of men who had become
members and foresaw a fine future
for the Blyth Branch.
The first public appearance of the
Branch was attributed to the
Drumhead Service and Parade held
in Clinton some time later. The
Blyth Branch joined Clinton,
Goderich, Wingham, Palmerston
Changes
The Blyth Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion looks quite
different today than it has in years past. Above is an
undated photo of the Legion before its most recent round
of renovations. (File photo)
and Harriston in the parade and
Blyth was said to have the second
largest group in attendance.
Meetings were held at Blyth
Memorial Hall until the construction
of the Legion Home was completed.
The building was a labour
undertaken by volunteers and every
member was involved. The
basement was originally a dirt floor,
however, some years later, the
building was raised and flooring was
installed, again by volunteers.
The Legion Ladies Auxiliary was
founded less than two years after the
Legion in January of 1948 and has
constantly supported the Branch
since that time. It is responsible for
helping activities including Legion
Week, the bursary program, track
and field programs, youth education,
the Adopt -A -Vet program and Zone,
District and Dominion Conventions.
As of 10 years ago, the Legion had
a membership of 325 who were very
active in the community working
with projects such as minor sports,
figure skating, the Boy Scouts and
Girl Guides, local hospitals, seniors
day care programs, the Blyth and
District Community Centre,
preservation of the Blyth Memorial
Community Hall, performances at
the Blyth Festival, the annual fishing
derby and the Huron Pioneer
Thresher and Hobby Association's
annual reunion.
RECENT RENOVATION
Submitted by Legion President Ric
McBurney.
For the past 10 years the Royal
Canadian Legion Branch 420 has
been fundraising and creating a
building fund with the goal of
making the Branch accessible and
creating a larger hall in order to hold
more functions at the Legion.
Along with the Ladies Auxiliary,
the Legion has tirelessly done this as
well as kept up other community
commitments.
The addition was completed in
two phases. Phase I was started in
October, 2011 and completed in
May 2012. This was a complete
renovation of the front entrance in
which the stairs are now inside. A
new high efficiency gas furnace was
also installed.
The Branch applied for and
received a Trillium grant in the
amount of $45,000 which, alongside
the approximate amount of $65,000
in the building fund, covered the
total cost of Phase I of $89,000.
Phase II started early in 2015 but
did not break ground until
September 2015.
The project was completed
recently and included an 8' x 54'
addition to the west housing as well
as a lift and barrier -free washroom.
Two storage rooms were also created
as a result of the modifications. The
cost of the phase was approximately
$226,000.
The Branch again applied for and
received a Trillium grant in the
amount of $47,000 as well as a
Federal Enabling grant in the
amount of $50,000. At that time,
there was $73,000 in the building
fund.
The Legion thanks those who
donated to the cause as well as those
who supported fundraising efforts
by the Legion and the Ladies
Auxiliary. The renovations would
not have happened without the
community, the Legion members
and their families.
While the Branch faced a rough
road for some time with the project,
its members persevered and the
executive is pleased to say the
project is paid in full. The next
project for the Branch will likely be
the main roof of the building.
Aside a New
addition?
Let everyone know about
your new bundle of joy!
Call for prices and details
519-523-4792
Th
or 519-887-9114
Citizen
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