A membership drive is underway to ensure more music and other entertainment events can happen at the beloved downtown location.
"The Legion operates on a club license, which means it's technically only open to members and their guests," said Danny Bell of Mad Loon Entertainment, a public events organization that puts on shows around town and has done so at The Legion in the past. "They are transitioning to a full liquor primary license which will solve this issue. While they await the approval of their application, we can't do any shows the way we used to."
The solution - more members - is one that also benefits The Legion organization. This venerable charity helps veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP as its primary mandate across Canada, but also contributes heavily to other community causes as well.
"Our membership is down this year, and it's been going that way the last three or four years," said Wilma Scott, the local Branch 43 membership chair. "We have a lot of respect for the older people, we've been the ones that have gotten The Legion this far, our veterans are now young people. We are really gearing for the younger generation. That's who counts."
The events in the past couple of years are not exclusionary of any age group, and have not displaced the other events that cater more specifically to the traditional veterans of our armed forces, but a whole new audience has shown its potential by embracing the downtown restaurant and its many amenities.
"We would welcome the younger generation to spend their social time with us, they have such great ideas and great energy," said Scott. "We need to keep the Legion going and with their help I think that would be great."
To ensure all B.C. government legalities and national Legion policies are covered, the simplest way to hold music concerts, comedy nights, and other entertainment events is to sign up as members the people most likely to want to see those shows.
Bell is calling for all those concertgoers to come down tonight or on May 15 between 7-9 p.m. to sign up for $55.
In addition to solidifying an audience for the shows that Bell (and other promoters besides) plans to put on, all the usual benefits of being a Legion member will apply. That includes discounts on certain Legion items, the ability to vote for local Legion executives, discounts at participating hotels and other services across Canada, and other perks. It also gets you in the door for any of that hypothetical entertainment, plus the ability to sign in five additional people for that same event.
"I'll be making a private event for both nights we're doing the membership drive," said Bell. "The idea is that we all go in and sign up together. For those of you that are already members, thank you. We need as many members to attend the shows as possible to allow for more guests."
As more members enjoy the Branch 43 bar and kitchen, the better the income for the not-for-profit organization that runs it and has done so for decades on end (the Legion movement is almost 95 years old in Canada).
In addition to the music fans of the city, those enlisted in the various forms of the Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP are also key helpers for this situation. There is no charge to sign up as a Legion member for current or past members of the Forces, including the RCMP, and that can be done online, free of charge, through the legion.ca website. Once you're signed up through Dominion Command, you can walk into your preferred local branch and transfer into their club.
"If you can't make either work, PM (private message) me and I'll line up a time with a Legion official that will work for you," to get signed up for Branch 43, said Bell.
Branch 43 of the Royal Canadian Legion is located at 1116 6th Avenue.
