I am hoping that you and your families have enjoyed the holidays, and you have been able to get some rest and relaxation.

As we put 2025 in our rear-view mirrors, a lot of good things have happened at the Branch, laying a solid foundation for 2026. Our membership levels have remained steady, and we are approaching 300 members.

Our 3 primary renovation projects have been completed, namely our walk-in cooler, the washrooms adjacent to the Lloyd King hall and our new accessible front entrance. We are currently working with our funding partners to arrange for a celebratory gathering. Two other major purchases were also completed in 2025, with the installation of a new commercial dishwasher in our kitchen and a new rooftop unit that provides heat and cooling to the refurbished washrooms and front entrance.

The kitchen and catering team had another busy year providing delicious meals to attendees of various functions held in both the lounge and Lloyd King Hall. The team also catered several functions outside of the Legion. The kitchen and catering team’s continuing efforts are a significant reason why our Branch remains on a solid financial footing.

The Lloyd King Hall continues to be a very active gathering place, regularly hosting exercise classes for seniors, cards, darts and cornhole competitions, amongst other activities. Thanks to the efforts of our members who excelled in shuffleboard competitions in 2025, our Branch will host the Zone, District, and Provincial shuffleboard competitions in 2026.

The 2025 Poppy Campaign was once again successful thanks to the support of the Pelham community. Over $23,500 was raised during this year’s campaign. A special shout-out to the Rotary Club of Fonthill, our 2025 kick-off sponsor! We also had a very successful Literary and Poster contest in which students participated from 4 schools. The Veterans Banner program continues to expand, as we now have 72 veterans who are honoured through this initiative. Thanks to the Town council and Town staff, 2 commemorative crosswalks and 2 Veterans benches were also commissioned in 2025.

Branch 613 provided scholarships to Notre Dame, Centennial and E.L. Crossley high schools and a bursary to a Broadcasting student of Niagara College. Donations to various initiatives and foundations were also made through our Poppy fund, General account, and Bingo account. All in all, these donations amounted to over $25,000.

I would be remiss not to mention those members who we lost in 2025. Gone but never forgotten are Jerry Allen, Pat Dilts, Shirley Krysa, Tim Lukas, Lionel Rochette, Marlene Stirtzinger, Mark Thomas, Ron Walker, Ed Woods, and our former Treasurer and Membership Chair, Debbie Gullett. Lest we forget, lest we forget.

In closing and on behalf of the Legion Executive, I wish you all the best in 2026, and we look forward to visiting with you at the Branch. We encourage all members to attend our monthly membership meetings and get involved! There are some great synergies happening at Branch 613.

Kindest regards,
Toni McKelvie
President, Branch 613

Total donations to this year’s campaign as of December 1st are $23,282.39, including monies collected through the tap machines. We are extremely grateful to all individuals, organizations, associations, schools, and businesses who have donated to our campaign. Pelham is a wonderful community, and we thank everyone, including our kick-off sponsor, the Rotary Club of Fonthill, for their generosity.

Campaign expenses amounted to $2,684.16. Expenses include the purchase of lapel poppies, poppy centers, poppy bracelets, poppy stickers, pins, coin boxes and trays, inscribed ribbons for wreaths, coin wrappers, awards for the Poster and Literary contest winners and cadet luncheon costs related to canvassing.

Our Remembrance Day service was very well attended despite a snowfall the night before. We thank the citizens of Pelham and the surrounding areas for taking the time to attend the service and honour our Veterans. The feedback we have received about the service has been very complimentary.

Once again, the staff and students of Niagara College’s Broadcasting, Radio, Television and Film (BRTF) program live-streamed our service. A rebroadcast of the service is still available for viewing at https://vimeo.com/event/5468815.

43 wreaths were laid in Veterans Park prior to our November 11th service. Wreaths were also placed at Centennial Park in Fenwick, at the Ridgeville cenotaph, and at the memorial in Peace Park for Remembrance Day observance.

On November 8th, we placed a wreath at the cenotaph in Veterans Park to observe Indigenous Veterans Day. Branch 613 members also attended the Indigenous Veterans Day service in Queenston Heights the same day.

The Veterans Banner program continues to grow in popularity. This year, there were banners on the utility poles honouring 71 veterans along Pelham Street, Pelham Town Square, Summersides Boulevard, Wellspring Way, and Meridian Way. We also had banners displayed in downtown Fenwick this year.

Thanks to the efforts of the Town council and staff, 2 commemorative crosswalks and 2 Veterans benches were also commissioned in Pelham. Legion members were present at both dedications.

This year’s edition of the Poster and Literary contest was also successful. With 42 entries from students of 4 schools, the judges had a challenging time choosing between the submissions. In addition to the students, we thank the parents and teachers for encouraging participation in the contest. Postcards created by students also added to this season of Remembrance.

Finally, all of this cannot be achieved without the help of many, including the Poppy Campaign volunteers, our Branch 613 Army cadets and their supervisors, our Ladies Auxilliary who actively canvassed on November 2nd, Niagara College staff and students, Remembrance Day service participants, Town of Pelham staff, Niagara Region staff, our first responders, those individuals who assisted in the donation counting, and our House and Ground and Kitchen volunteers. Special thanks to Jean Lalonde for tracking all donations and expenses during the campaign and to the staff of Pelham Today for providing excellent coverage of our Poppy Campaign and Remembrance Day activities.

Good things happen when volunteers are committed to a cause, and as Chair of this campaign, I extend my heartfelt thanks to all who made this 2025 campaign a very successful and memorable one.

Jim Garner
2025 Poppy Chair

As the calendar year 2025 winds down, let all of us remember that 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War 2 and the liberation of the Netherlands. 

As we approach Remembrance Day, our Poppy Campaign committee has been meeting regularly since the beginning of September, developing our 2025 plans. We know that in previous years in late October and early November, the citizens of Pelham have pinned a poppy to their lapels and then on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, they have paused for two minutes to honour and remember those who have served and continue to serve our country. For that, our Branch members and especially our veterans say, “thank you.”

Our November 11th service will begin at approximately 10:40 a.m. and will once again take place in Veterans Park on Legion grounds. To enhance attendee safety, the right westbound lane of Highway 20 will be closed in front of the Branch for the duration of the service. Thanks to the Regional staff for facilitating our request.

Once again, we are pleased to advise that our service will be livestreamed to allow Pelham residents to participate virtually, courtesy of Niagara College’s students and staff from the Broadcasting- Radio, Television and Film (BRTF) program. The live stream link is https://vimeo.com/event/5468815. Weather permitting, there will be a flyover during the service sponsored by our Town of Pelham.

Our annual Poppy campaign will take place during the period of October 31st to November 11th inclusive. Members of the planning committee have canvassed businesses and organisations in Pelham, and we are pleased to advise that approximately 170 Poppy boxes will be distributed throughout our Town. You will also see volunteers canvassing at store locations from time to time during the period of the campaign. As well, our Branch has secured 4 “tap boxes” that will be located at Sobeys, the LCBO, the Beer Store and DeVries Farm market in Fenwick.

With a campaign goal of $25,000, we are asking the citizens of Pelham for your continuing support of our Poppy campaign, which raises funds to sustain a variety of programs and initiatives to assist veterans and their families, as well as sponsoring cadet and youth programs and making available bursaries for the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of our veterans. We also make financial donations to entities like Camp Maple Leaf, a not-for-profit sleepover camp for children of military families, the Homeless Veterans program, the St. Joseph’s Veteran Care program, the Niagara Health Foundation, and the Juravinski Cancer Centre through our Poppy Fund. More information on the uses of the Poppy Fund can be found at www.on.legion.ca.

If you are inclined to support our campaign in 2025 without accessing the Poppy collection boxes, you can send us a cheque payable to the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 613. We also accept payment at our Branch via cash, credit card or debit card. You can also process your donation by using e-transfer at [email protected]. Under the “comments” section, please insert “Poppy Fund donation.” Please note the best time to visit the Branch is between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. each calendar day. 

By now, you will have noticed that banners depicting veterans with a Pelham connection were placed on the utility poles by Town staff throughout the downtown core on Pelham Street, Pelham Town Square, Summersides Boulevard, Meridian Way, and Wellspring Way.  We are also pleased to announce that veteran’s banners are now present in the downtown core of Fenwick.

New this year is the installation of 2 commemorative crosswalks courtesy of the Town of Pelham at the Meridian Centre and by the Pelham Library. As well, 2 red benches honouring veterans have been installed, 1 at the MCC and 1 in Fenwick, again thanks to the Town of Pelham.

On behalf of all our veterans and members of Branch 613, we thank you in advance for your continuing support of our Poppy campaign. Pelham residents have always responded favourably to community-based initiatives, and we are hoping you will do so again for our 2025 Poppy campaign!

Best regards,

Members of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 613