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

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 2024 in our rear-view mirrors, a lot of good things have happened at the Branch this year, laying a solid foundation for 2025. Our membership levels have remained steady, and we are within reach of having 300 members.

Work is nearing completion on our renovations, with the walk-in cooler scheduled for completion in January and the washrooms adjacent to the Lloyd King hall and our new front entrance scheduled for a mid-February completion date. The entire exterior of the building has been freshly painted, courtesy of SA Construction and Rainbow Painters and the west wall of our building has been excavated and waterproofed. The new front façade gives our Legion a refreshing look, again thanks to SA Construction.

Legion volunteers led by Comrade Shawn McKelvie have rebuilt the Men’s washroom off the Lounge and have also created a new room for Legion memorabilia in the southwest corner of the building. These renovations are timely and well-needed.

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 and continues to produce Heat and Serve meals. I am pleased to remind everyone that Branch Director, Jacqueline Schwenker received a 2024 Peer award from the Town of Pelham for her countless hours of volunteerism! She is one of the valued members of the kitchen and catering team.

The Lloyd King hall continues to be a very active gathering place, regularly hosting exercise classes for Seniors on the Move, Ax Throwing competitions and Friday night Cornhole competitions, amongst other activities. And speaking of the Ax Throwers, we thank them for their fundraising efforts on our behalf again this year resulting in another $10,000 donation to the Branch.

The 2024 Poppy Campaign established a high mark for donations. Almost $23,500 was raised during this year’s campaign. We also had a very successful Literary and Poster contest in which 111 students from 5 schools participated. The Veterans Banner program continues to grow as we now have 70 veterans who are honoured through this initiative. We also hosted the Healing Waters initiative for the 6^th year in partnership with volunteers from Soldier On, Hamilton Fly Fishers and Tyers and Trout Unlimited Canada, Niagara Chapter.

We also provided scholarships to students of Notre Dame, Centennial and E.L. Crossley high schools and a bursary to a Broadcasting student of Niagara College. Donations to various initiatives in our community and beyond were also made.  All in all, these activities amounted to approximately $24,000.

I would be remiss not to mention those members who we lost in 2024. Gone but never forgotten are Rick Gretsinger, Charles Leguerrier, Jim Wellington, Murray Ferguson, and Jake Dilts. They will be missed. Lest we forget, lest we forget.

In closing and on behalf of the Legion Executive, I wish you all the best in 2025 and I look forward to visiting with you at the Branch. I also encourage all members to attend our monthly membership meetings and get involved! There are some great synergies happening and with more volunteers, we can keep our momentum moving forward.

Kindest regards,

Toni McKelvie
Branch President