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RIVERSIDE BRANCH 255 IN THE NEWS

FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION

The federal government is providing financial aid to the Royal Canadian Legion. A total of $14-million has been announced to support the 1,350 branches across the country. Windsor-Tecumseh Liberal MP Irek Kusmericzky announced Monday that $43,380 will be shared by four branches in Windsor Essex.

Ken Dault, President of Branch 255 in Riverside, says the money will be directed towards operating costs.

Local Legions receive $43,000 boost from Canadian government
CTVNewsWindsor.ca

December 22, 2020 WINDSOR, ONT. -- The federal government is providing financial aid to the Royal Canadian Legion. More than 13,000 branches across the country will share a pot of $14 million. Locally, four branches will receive $43,000.August 27, 2020. (Ricardo Veneza / CTV Windsor)

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 255, 5645 Wyandotte St.E. Windsor, ON. (Legion Branch 255 / Facebook) text.

Kristylee Varley. Dec. 2020

RIVERSIDE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION

CENOTAPH CEREMONY NOV.3.2018

The Riverside Royal Canadian Legion Branch 255 held their Cenotaph Ceremony Saturday afternoon at the

Old Riverside Arena.

Wreaths were laid on the Cenotaph and a moment of silence to remember the fallen had been included in the ceremony as it annually does.

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 255 Makes $6,000 Donation!

So strong in fact that they’re making a $6,000 donation to Family Services Windsor-Essex to expand counselling support services available to veterans and the greater Windsor-Essex community.

Each November since 1921 poppies blossom on the lapels and collars of over half of Canada’s entire population as a collective reminiscence of sacrifice and commitment. Monies raised from the sale of those poppies help to fund important work across the country and right here in Windsor and Essex County. But in 2015, there were reports that the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 255 days very running out. Flash forward to present day, where Branch 255 is going strong and continuing to do great work in our community.

This year, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 255 is donating $6,000 to Family Services Windsor-Essex to help purchase 2 neurofeedback machines to be used to better assist clients in their therapeutic recovery. Neurofeedback intervention offers a safe, non-invasive, non-harmful treatment for individuals who use the power of their own brain to help counter negative effects of many conditions. Conditions, where it was previously thought that little could be done. Different people respond to different forms of treatment, by adding neurofeeback to our services, Family Services is able to broaden our reach to a wider portion of the population including veterans.

Family Services Windsor-Essex helps individuals, couples and families manage life, marriage and family challenges, deal with arising issues and resolve conflicts to live independently in the community. FSWE’s qualified staff can help deal with anxiety, depression, anger, loss and grief; along with addiction, sexuality, mental health and wellness issues. As these challenges can often be experienced by war veterans, who may face Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, this donation a natural fit between these two great organizations.

Like many people, veterans and their families can often experience these types of challenges immediately following a traumatic event, many years later or through everyday life stressors. No matter what the trigger, we want people to know that if you need to talk…Family Services Windsor-Essex is here to help in our communities. Counselling services are affordable and may even be free for people who qualify.

“We are very thankful to the Royal Canadian Legion Riverside Branch 255 for helping us expand our counselling services to be sure that veterans, their families and the greater community have affordable access to this progressive treatment option,” say Beth Anne Ternovan, FSWE Manager. Family Services Windsor-Essex helps individuals, couples and families manage life, marriage and family challenges, deal with arising issues and resolve conflicts to live independently in the community. FSWE’s qualified staff can help deal with anxiety, depression, anger, loss and grief; along with addiction, sexuality, mental health and wellness issues. As these challenges can often be experienced by war veterans, who may face Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, this donation is a natural fit between these two great organizations.

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 255 Donation Each November since 1921 poppies blossom on the lapels and collars of over half of Canada’s entire population as a collective reminiscence of sacrifice and commitment. Monies raised from the sale of those poppies help to fund important work across the country and right here in Windsor and Essex County. But in 2015, there were reports that the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 255 days very running out. Flash forward to present day, where Branch 255 is going strong and continuing to do great work in our community.

Donation from Riverside Royal Canadian Legion Branch 255

Farrow Riverside Miracle Park thanks to the Riverside Royal Canadian Legion Branch 255 for providing a generous donation of $25,000.00 from Veteran Affairs for the new Miracle Park Cenotaph. Here is a picture from last night's general meeting of Riverside Miracle park Representative and Br 255 member Martin Denonville receiving the Check from Past president Tim Copland and Sgt at Arms Bruce Tribute.

ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION RIVERSIDE BRANCH CELEBRATES 85 YEARS

Riverside Branch 255 Royal Canadian Legion celebrated 85 years Sunday afternoon. The day was filled with family-friendly fun such as a dunk tank for charity, a bouncy castle, balloon animals, free snacks and drinks, and much more.

Bob Bromley, the second vice-president at the branch and a Vietnam veteran, said the branch had more than 2,000 members in the mid-to-late 1960s. About five years ago there were 800 members. The steady decline is untenable, he said.

“We used to be the biggest branch in Windsor and we held that title for many, many, many years up until this year,” Bromley said. The 80-year-old building on Wyandotte Street East needs a new roof, new heating and cooling systems and improvements to its worn carpeting and furniture. The leaky roof and unreliable and uneven heating system alone would cost more than $100,000 to fix.The branch is in debt but Copland wouldn’t say how deep. He doesn’t want to see the branch close but suspects it could in the next month or two. “We’re struggling terribly.”

Some of the options include selling the building, amalgamating with another branch or turning in the branch’s charter. Copland said members who attended Thursday’s meeting were reluctant to choose any of those options and he was directed to call the legion’s provincial leadership to consider the next step.

Tom Eagles, Dominion President of the Royal Canadian Legion, said change can be difficult but it makes sense for branches to move to a smaller building or to sell and amalgamate.

“The membership is shrinking but the buildings have not shrunk,” Eagles said from St. John, N.B., Friday. “A lot of these buildings that are closing I think is good business because they are still keeping their charter, they are still having a poppy campaign, they are still working hard for the veterans of the community but what they’ve done is instead of taking the money that they were getting and paying it on the insurance for paying it on the light bill, now they have that money where they can give back to the veterans and their families, to the Boy Scouts, to the local air cadets. The money’s available to pass around now, whereas before when they had the building, the building was taking all the money.”

About 20 years ago there were more than 1,600 region branches across Canada and that number has dropped to 1,440 with more than 300,000 members nationwide. Membership at some legion branches is increasing especially in branches outside cities, Eagles said.

Bromley said the Wyandotte Street East building had been for sale four or five years ago but the membership turned down the offer. Although the branch is open to the public, the main source of revenue — the bar — doesn’t make money, he said.

Copland said most of the members are over age 60. There are a few Second World War veterans in their 90s and Korean war veterans in their 80s. Older members may not want to drive at night or in poor weather.

As veterans pass away, their families often do not continue to come to the legion or use it for showers or family gatherings, he said. Young people head to bars downtown, he said.

The branch has a darts league, a night for pool players, card games during the week, Friday night fish dinners and Saturday night entertainment. Still the branch needs more people and more bar revenue, Copland said.

“There’s days here where there may be three or four people sitting at the bar for maybe a half hour or 45 minutes and have a beer or two and they’re gone.”

The remaining Windsor legion locations include Branch 12 in Walkerville, Branch 143 on Marentette Avenue and the newer Branch 594 on Howard Avenue. The Drouillard Road branch closed its doors in 2006.

Our Trivia Night was a HUGE Success!
Thanks to everyone who came out to learn about our newest service Financial Fitness and enjoyed some friendly competition at our ‘How’s Your Financial Fitness’ Trivia event.

Thanks especially to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 255 for hosting the event and donating prizes.

Here’s a few pictures of the fun evening had by all who attended.

For more pictures of the evening go to snapdWindsor.

Riverside Legion in dire straits
Dwindling membership and $150,000 needed for repairs has put the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 255 in jeopardy

of closing.

“We’re in dire straits,” branch president

Tim Copland said Friday.

The Riverside branch held an emergency meeting Thursday night and 119 members attended. A letter informing members of the meeting was sent to 439 people, the 2014 membership list, and the branch is now down to 320 members.

Author of the article:

Sharon Hill • Windsor Star

Posted November 15, 2022.

CAN CANADIAN LEGION HALLS SURVIVE

Interview with Branch 255

President Tim Copland

The Agenda with Steve Paikin

https://youtu.be/VuVlMgnaH7A