The Royal Canadian Legion, with branches all across Canada, plays a unique role in communities and many of it’s branches are under serious threat of closing.

Established in 1926 as primarily a support service for veterans, it also serves as a reminder of the dedication of the men and women that serve to protect our country. In smaller communities the local legion branch has evolved into so much more.

Branch 109 in Schreiber was originally open to members only and was a popular spot for socializing as it was also one of the few taverns in town. Its members were also very involved in community service and also included a group connected to the legion called the Ladies Auxiliary, originally formed to aid wounded veterans returning home. These two separate organizations operate in tandem to promote events and support their community. As a result the “Legion” as it is normally referred to is now a very active and important part of the lifeblood of Schreiber. 

As the population of the town dwindled and bars shut down, only the Legion remained as a venue for socializing. The Legion Hall on Winnipeg Street had also been a very important location for community events such as wedding receptions, dances, bingo games and many other activities. Up until the COVID outbreak it was the only bar in town and was quickly shutdown as many businesses were, to comply with safety regulations during a pandemic.

Like any other business, there was an obvious financial loss, and without paying customers, its fate was left hanging in the balance. Operating expenses still need to be covered and costs to maintain a closed building can still be quite high. There was a small break in fortunes when some restrictions had been relaxed but that was short lived and resulted in another closure. As the branch in Schreiber relies primarily on volunteers, it was nearly impossible to continue operating while maintaining social bubbles. 

Last year a few local musicians formed a band and like minstrels of the past decided to parade around town performing in order to raise funds for the local food bank. It was a huge success but sadly like many things in the music industry, changes within the group would occur. Coe Commisso, one of the founding members of the band Curbside, decided to seek out some new talent and was quickly joined by local musicians Brad Irwin and Merv Vezina.

They practiced in a friends garage when they could find the time, with the intention of lending their talents to various organizations in need of financial support. The band had set its sights on the local Legion as an organization that could use some help. A date was decided and the trio honed their craft with rehearsals taking place when time permitted.

On the particular day of the big event, it looked like the weather might not be co operating and rain was in the forecast. Undaunted the band made the decision to push on and were soon off on their mobile stage to entertain the townsfolk of Schreiber. Carefully straddled, they shared their songs and people showed their appreciation by dropping money into the pails that were provided. The next day, Jim and Lisa Winters accepted the donation of nearly $1200 with Jim acknowledging that the money would provide much needed relief in continuing the operations of Branch 109 in Schreiber.

It seems fitting that the organization that has given so much to the residents of Schreiber would now receive such acknowledgement and support back.