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Legion's ladies auxiliary marks 70 years

They are the backbone of the Turner Valley Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.
Judy Cheesman, Lavonne Gallant, Diane Elkow, Irene Howard, Ida Wegelin, and Jo Balderson of the Ladies Auxiliary celebrate the group’s 70th anniversary on Sept. 28.
Judy Cheesman, Lavonne Gallant, Diane Elkow, Irene Howard, Ida Wegelin, and Jo Balderson of the Ladies Auxiliary celebrate the group’s 70th anniversary on Sept. 28.

They are the backbone of the Turner Valley Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.

For the last 70 years the Turner Valley Legion Ladies Auxiliary #78 has been busy behind the scenes to support the legion, raising money to support its ongoing operations and events as well as many important initiatives in the community.

“We have a very strong volunteer support even though we’re small,” said Judy Cheeseman, auxiliary vice-president. “We’re mighty and we contribute to the branch on a monthly basis dollar-wise to help them with their monthly expenses.”

The Auxiliary #78 celebrated its 70th anniversary on Sept. 27. The group officially received its charter in May 1947, but it was active for years prior.

Past President Ida Wegelin said its fundraising efforts have helped the Turner Valley legion in a myriad of ways over the years. They’ve helped purchase furniture and have flooring replaced.

The group is small, but its members hustle and work hard to fundraise to also support a range of charities and organizations. The auxiliary used to prepare all the food for events held in the legion, such as weddings or anniversaries, though they still do funeral teas.

“We used to do all the catering as well, but we finally decided that we didn’t have the women power to continue and we gave the kitchen back to the branch,” she said.

They lead bake sales, host annual raffles and the Christmas Market on Nov. 25 and they help organize the legion’s Spook House.

“A lot of people come out from Calgary, they say it’s a pretty good scare,” she said

The auxiliary is kept busy outside of the Legion hall, as well, supporting a myriad of causes such as the food bank, STARS Air Ambulance, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Oilfields Hospital and Sheep River Health Trust, the Foothills Country Hospice. They also offer a yearly bursary to students at Oilfields High School.

They also support the Colonel Belcher Centre in Calgary when they can.

Supporting veterans is closest to their hearts.

She joined after her father became a Legion member after the Second World War.

“I honour him whenever I come in here, and a lot of the people that come in they have friends or relatives,” she said.

In 1967 auxiliary members brought veterans from the Col. Belcher centre in Calgary out to the Turner Valley branch for lunch. It’s become an annual tradition and they marked 50 years this year.

“At least 35 people come out, two bus loads,” said president Diane Elkow, a member for 56 years

She said the Turner Valley auxiliary is one of the older auxiliary groups.

“Most of them joined when we got the charter, which was shortly after the Second World War. The legion was big at the time and very active.”

They’ve done a lot of good work over the years, and there’s been plenty of laughs too.

They used to host plays at the branch for entertainment. During the Canadian Centennial year in 1967, she said they organized a plan and fashion show.

“A bunch of the ladies… wrote a play based on the oil boom that happened here in the ’20s, they wrote a bunch of songs and everything,” she said. “Then we did a fashion show of different fashions from early 1900s up.”

Another year, they organized a fashion show where the male members of the legion were dressed up in ladies wear.

Though they’re still running strong, Cheeseman, a 40-year member, said membership is on the decline. The auxiliary has 50 members right now, down from 100 a couple years ago. Of that, she said about 20 are active members.

She said they are looking to bring new members into the group.

“We encourage any women who want to come out and support the branch, because without us it’s going to be harder for them to operate,” she said.

Anyone can join, membership in the auxiliary does not require affiliation with the Legion or former serviceman or women. Memberships is $38 per year, $33 for people 65 years of age or older.

For information and to join, call Cheeseman at 587-830-4827.

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