LAC LA BICHE - When people go to the Legion in Lac La Biche for the annual Remembrance Day ceremony on Nov. 11, they may notice the recent work that has been done to the decades-old building located on Churchill Drive.
Danny Stevens, president of the Royal Canadian Legion McGrane Branch 28 in Lac La Biche, says the completed renovations include new plumbing throughout the building as well as new lighting and electrical upgrades in the main clubroom.
Additionally, the roof on the old cabin portion of the legion – the original building that was built in 1912 and moved to the current location in 1947 – received new shingles. The current clubroom, Stevens explained, was added in the mid 1980s through the hard work and dedication of Legion members.
The latest renovations, Stevens said, went as planned and were necessary as the building had been experiencing various issues over a long of time.
“We were always dealing with leaking roofs and worn out plumbing,” Stevens told Lake land This Week, adding it was also important to update electrical systems.
With this work completed and out of the way, officials with the McGrane Branch have more renovations planned for the near future.
According to Stevens, the restorative work that will be done includes new roofing for the rest of the building, as well as fresh flooring and painting in the legion clubroom.
Those who enjoy barbequing steaks on the deck of the building during the weekly community steak nights will also have more room to move as plans are in the works for an expansion of the outside area.
All of this work needs to be done to the building as there have been no substantial renovations for many years, Stevens said.
“We need to ensure the long-term viability of the Legion,” he stated.
As the building gets new additions, Legion officials are also hoping the same happens to their membership roster. The Legion holds events throughout the year to garner more interest in the organization, including the weekly steak nights, summer BBQ events, an annual Christmas party, as well as 50/50 draws.
In recent years, the local legion has seen a steady increase in membership – and Stevens would like to see that trend continue.
Although the Legion membership is based on veterans, active service military and law enforcement members, Stevens says anyone can join their local branch. As he explains the process is quite easy and involves stopping by the Legion to pick up an application or filling one out online.
While some service clubs are experiencing challenges with bringing in new members, involvement in the local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion is strong.
“Present membership is around 100 and has been climbing in recent years following a period of decline since about 2000 to a low of 79 in 2019,” Stevens said.
Remembrance Day events at the Lac La Biche Legion begin at 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 11.
