When the doors of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 43 Prince George headquarters swing shut Sunday evening after Remembrance Day celebrations, it will mark the end of an era.
Since it opened in 1962, the building at 1335 Seventh Ave. has been drawing people to socialize with Legion members, war veterans and service personnel after they've paid their respects to our fallen soldiers at the Civic Centre and City Hall cenotaph ceremonies. By next spring, the Legion will have moved to a new location a couple blocks down the road.
"This is the last time we'll be in that building on Remembrance Day and probably the last time we'll be able to hold as many people on Remembrance Day as we have been because we're going from 20,000 square feet to 5,000 square feet," said John Scott, the Legion's B.C./Yukon Central branch zone commander.
On Sunday morning, after the parade disburses the crowds gathered at the cenotaph, the public is invited for one last open-house chance to see what the Legion offers at its current facility. Crowds will gather around the piano to sing a few old songs and the Legion pipe band will be there to play a few tunes.
Brigadier-General Paul Bury, the Canadian Forces Deputy Commander for Land Force Western Area / Joint Task Force West will also attend, as will members of the Princess Patricia Light Infantry of Edmonton, coming to honour the memory of Cpl. Darren Fitzpatrick, a Canadian soldier from Prince George who died March 6, 2010 while serving in Afghanistan.
"We always do pack them in on Remembrance Day and I think maybe a few more who don't make that trip every year will make that extra trip down there on Sunday," said Scott.
Next year, the plan is to have that gathering at the Civic Centre.
For Scott, an executive member who served as Branch 43 president in 2007, the reasons for the move are obvious -- declining memberships, soaring bills, and a building that's become too large for the purpose it serves. But he can't help but wax nostalgic for the good times shared by thousands who have walked up those steps into the hall the past five decades.
"You see the photos on the walls and all the faces of a lot of people who have been in that Legion and it's quite a lineup," said Scott. "You realize all the work that's gone into keeping this Legion alive, producing so much help to veterans and help to the community and you're kind of awed by that.
"It's hard to leave the old place behind. It's a proud building and a proud bunch of people who are in there. Unfortunately they are getting older and less able to help out and we are looking forward to the new younger Afghanistan vets, Bosnian vets and peacekeeping vets coming to the Legion."
The Legion branch has been operating on borrowed time for the past year. After months on the real estate market, the building was sold last spring to a private investment group, which gave the Legion a year, rent-free, to find a new home. The new location at 1116 Sixth Ave., between Dominion and George streets is the former Elks Hall, owned by Ryan Kim. In September, Kim and the Legion came to favourable lease agreement to move into the building next May.
Current branch president Bruce Gabriel knows there will be some sad eyes reflecting on old times, but the reality is the membership can't afford $5,000 tax assessments and $1,600 monthly hydro bills. It's time to move on.
"It's a fresh start for us and we're going to be moving to a nice building we're able to sustain," said Gabriel. "We feel very encouraged by all the support we're getting from community and by mid-May we'll be in that place. We'll still have to prosper, but we won't have to earn near as much to survive."
The New Year's dance will be the last Legion event in the old building.
The Legion is seeking input from the general public and Legion members, who are being asked to complete a survey to help shape the future of the Legion. That survey is available in paper form at the Legion and online at http://fluidsurveys.com/s/legion43survey/ and people have until Nov. 21 to complete it and submit their ideas.
"We have to change our ways and be more open to younger people and learn to deal with their requirements, rather than the old way we always did things, it's just not working," said Scott. "We've lost members, partly because a lot of the membership felt the Legion was going to fail, so why buy a new membership. I think we will see a spike once we get into our new location."
