It was a bittersweet weekend for members and patrons of Branch No. 43 of the Royal Canadian Legion.
The legion closed its Seventh Avenue doors Sunday, after a three days of music, dancing, memories and fun.
While some, like branch president Bruce Gabriel were looking forward to a building free from problems like flooding, others were sad to leave the place they've come to know and love.
"My grandfather helped build this place," said Earl Taylor. "It's a really nice place to come."
Doreen Estabrooks has called the Legion home for about 40 years and while she said she's going to make the best of the move, it's still hard to swallow.
"All of our families came here too, brothers and sisters," Estabrooks said. "[The sale] shouldn't have happened. [This building] should have been the legion forever."
Marion Long, who became a member of the Hope legion 34 years ago, said she feels sorry for the elderly veterans who will have to leave.
Those who frequent the legion will have to find a new place to socialize and dance over the summer, as the new space at the Old Elks Hall on Sixth Avenue will not be ready for the branch to move in until the fall.
"What are we going to do on Friday nights now?" Long asked, while Estabrooks joked that they would go through withdrawal.
The new building will be a quarter of the 20,000 square feet the Legion has called home since 1962.
Chief among the concerns with the smaller space for some were whether the dance floor is up to snuff.
Fraser Lake resident Mark Lacerte has spent the past decade coming to the Prince George Legion. "It's a good place to go dancing," he said. "It's my style of music, everything is good."
Among the other perks that made the Seventh Avenue location a popular gathering place were good food, excellent service and a fun place to meet friends, patrons said.
"I'm not crazy about the idea [of moving]," said Gail Kazemir, who has been coming to the space with her husband for the past five years. "But it's like anything, you don't always like change."
