Following an absence from the community of some 20 odd years, the Okotoks Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion celebrates its second anniversary on Oct. 29. The former Branch #163 is now Branch #291 in Alberta/NWT. While activities are still somewhat limited, our meetings and Thursday games nights are usually well attended.
Our Poppy Campaign will be conducted from Oct. 28 to Nov. 10 and there will be the ceremonial “pinning” of Mayor Bill Robertson and our MLA, Wayne Anderson along with the raising of the Poppy flag at the Okotoks Town Hall at 3 p.m. on the Oct. 27. Please support our Poppy campaign. It not only supports veterans and their families, but provides bursaries to descendants of veterans, support to cadets and other important community and veteran related causes. If you would like to participate in the campaign, please call our Poppy Chairperson, Dr. Maureen Haberstock at 403-938-0097, email her at [email protected] or at [email protected].
The Okotoks Remembrance Day Service will be held again this year at the Pason Centennial Arena. The Ceremony will start at 10:20 a.m. on Nov. 11. Our thanks to the Town of Okotoks for allowing the use of this venue again. It provides much increased seating compared to the Centennial Centre, and this means that you will not have to arrive an hour early to have a seat. Post Ceremony gatherings are planned at The George and the Elks.
Organizations, businesses and individuals who wish to place wreaths may do so after the ‘Official’ wreath laying ceremony. However, we do need all relevant information. Please contact us via e-mail at [email protected] (attention Malcolm) or at [email protected]. Alternatively, you may call 403-933-2622.
Legion Annual Poster & Literary Competition Applications were delivered last week to 12 Okotoks and area schools. The entry deadline is the end of November and there are First, Second and Honourary Mention in Junior, Intermediate and Senior Categories. Last year, we had 458 entries, the second highest number of all the branches in the province, and our local winners won 18 awards at Legion; Area, District and Provincial levels.
Our Okotoks Branch meets at the Elks at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday each month, (except this November when it is the third Tuesday, Nov. 15), and we gather for games and sports (darts, cribbage, dominoes) every Thursday at the Elks. All members of the community are welcome.
You need not be a veteran, just an interest in supporting veterans and interacting with like-minded friends. If you are interested, please come to one of our gatherings or email us at [email protected].
