Wasaga Beach celebrates the opening of Branch 645.
by Trent Gow // Photography by Roger Klein
More than 400 people crowded into the RecPlex in Wasaga Beach at the end of May for the parading of colours and the grand opening of a new branch of the Royal Canadian Legion (RCL). Bruce Julian, RCL’s dominion president, succinctly summed up the event with one word: “Wow.” Wasaga Beach RCL 645 is the first new branch of the legion to open in Ontario in nearly 20 years.
The skirl of bagpipes summoned the unveiling of the branch charter and the installation of the branch executive. Best wishes and a variety of presentations of flags, plaques and certificates were delivered by a full slate of local dignitaries including federal MP Terry Dowdall, Ontario MPP Brian Saunderson and Wasaga Beach Mayor Brian Smith.
Founded in 1925, the RCL is Canada’s largest veteran support and community service organization, with about 250,000 members in 1,350 branches nationwide, including 400 in Ontario. The RCL’s abiding commitment is to make a difference in the lives of veterans and their families, provide essential community services, and always remember the men and women who sacrificed so much for our country.
The birth of Wasaga Beach Branch is thanks in large part to the stirring vision and perseverance of its first president, retired Master Corporal Marc Séguin.
“Our primary mission will be to help veterans in our community, but we are going to be so much more,” said Séguin. “This won’t just be your father’s legion; we intend to reach out to young veterans and young community members.” Testimony to the appeal of this forward-looking focus is the recruitment of more than 100 members by the time of the grand opening, with many more expressions of interest streaming in.
Seguin attributes much of his substantive success to the strong and timely support he received from Wasaga’s mayor and council along with senior staff. In particular, the town is providing a much-needed temporary home building while longer-term plans are solidified. Canadian Tire has already donated the darts.
