Re: Royal Canadian Legion - Topics & Posted Articles

by Garrison Mon 05 Nov 2018, 4:42 pm

News Release

Lightening the Burden for Ontario's Legion Halls

Ontario’s Government for the People will exempt Royal Canadian Legion branches in Ontario from paying property tax

November 5, 2018

https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2018/11/lightening-the-burden-for-ontarios-legion-halls.html

by Garrison Mon 05 Nov 2018, 5:11 pm

Love for Legions in community
Organizations finding new ways to attract members, raise funds

By: Eva Wasney
Posted: 11/5/2018

Royal Canadian Legion - Topics & Posted Articles - Page 12 Ew-legion-nov7-24+(7)

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/metro/Love-for-Legions-in-community-499676031.html

by Scorpion Tue 06 Nov 2018, 12:23 pm

One Group Will Not Have to Pay Property Tax in Mississauga

by Ashley Newport on November 6, 2018

Royal Canadian Legion - Topics & Posted Articles - Page 12 Cityhallaerial

https://www.insauga.com/one-group-will-not-have-to-pay-property-tax-in-mississauga

by Maxstar Thu 08 Nov 2018, 4:16 pm

Construction on Surrey mental health centre for Canada's veterans begins in 2019

Kenneth Chan - Nov 08, 2018

Royal Canadian Legion - Topics & Posted Articles - Page 12 Surrey-veterans-village-june-2018-3

http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/legion-veterans-village-surrey-approved-construction

by Jeremiah Fri 09 Nov 2018, 7:39 am

Legions fight to adapt, survive and keep serving veterans

By WANYEE LIStarMetro Vancouver
Thu., Nov. 8, 2018

Royal Canadian Legion - Topics & Posted Articles - Page 12 _1van_legion2_jennifergauthier

https://www.thestar.com/vancouver/2018/11/08/legions-fight-to-adapt-survive-and-keep-serving-veterans.html

by **Zoneforce** Fri 09 Nov 2018, 11:35 am

Aging, dwindling legions look to halt long decline: 'We are changing'

The Canadian Press
Published: Nov 09, 2018

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https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/news/canada/aging-dwindling-legions-look-to-halt-long-decline-we-are-changing-258022/

by **RunningLight** Fri 09 Nov 2018, 2:35 pm

Royal Canadian Legion branches look to halt decline as members age

HOLLY MCKENZIE-SUTTER
THE CANADIAN PRESS
PUBLISHED: NOV 09, 2018

Royal Canadian Legion - Topics & Posted Articles - Page 12 UM4DGYWT4JCGBD5SDT35H3427A

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-royal-canadian-legion-branches-look-to-halt-decline-as-members-age/

by **Replica** Fri 09 Nov 2018, 7:46 pm

Province announce $100K support program for legions, veterans' units

CBC News · Posted: Nov 09, 2018

Royal Canadian Legion - Topics & Posted Articles - Page 12 Royal-canadian-legion-branch-001

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/royal-canadian-legion-veterans-units-money-1.4900326

by JAFO Fri 09 Nov 2018, 8:20 pm

All these stories about Legions not having the money to pay the bills and provinces giving them tax breaks I can't help but wonder why in the hell are we trusting our "Leaders in Veteran Advocating" to keep advocating for us?

If they can't even get volunteers to man poppy sales again why in the hell are we trusting them to do the right thing for veterans? And how long until they start charging veterans for filling out VAC applications? They are already charging veterans $5 to sign a piece of paper to get a vet licence plate where a Veteran ID card should be enough proof to any provincial transportation bureau that I'm a vet who wants a vet licence plate!

This "we are poor and losing members" guilt trip to us veterans who do not want to join the Legion is getting on my nerves!!!

by Caliber Sat 10 Nov 2018, 9:58 am

'The legion has a job to do': Former president of Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command reflects on change

Millicent McKay (millicent.mckay@journalpioneer.com)
Published: Nov 10, 2018

Royal Canadian Legion - Topics & Posted Articles - Page 12 As-11112016-rd-middleton27-lp_large

https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/eleventh-hour/the-legion-has-a-job-to-do-former-president-of-nova-scotianunavut-command-reflects-on-change-258042/

by Wolverine Sun 11 Nov 2018, 1:52 pm

B.C. Legions in need of young members to continue aiding veterans into the future

ASHLEY WADHWANI / Nov. 11, 2018

https://www.castlegarnews.com/news/b-c-legions-in-need-of-young-members-to-continue-aiding-veterans-into-the-future/

by Scorpion Fri 16 Nov 2018, 8:52 am

Ontario will exempt Royal Canadian Legion branches from paying property tax

By Expositor Staff -November 16, 2018

https://www.manitoulin.ca/ontario-will-exempt-royal-canadian-legion-branches-from-paying-property-tax/

by **Proctor** Wed 28 Nov 2018, 8:00 am

Royal Canadian Legion - Topics & Posted Articles - Page 12 14557749_web1_181129-NBU-Legion-Branch-10---IMGP9277

Royal Canadian Legion places Branch 10 Harewood under temporary trusteeship

RCMP investigating financial irregularities, Legion says

CHRIS BUSH / Nov. 27, 2018

Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 10 in Nanaimo is being operated under a trusteeship after alleged financial irregularities were discovered.

The legion branch, located at 129 Harewood Rd., is up and running again this month after it was closed for three weeks in October for what the Royal Canadian Legion B.C. Yukon Command described in a press release as a “serious issue.”

According to the press release, issued Nov. 8 by Glenn Hodge, Royal Canadian Legion B.C. Yukon Command president, the branch was placed under a trusteeship, which took over the building and management of the branch to secure its assets and investigate allegations made about financial irregularities at the branch that were presented to the Royal Canadian Legion Oct. 5.

“The trusteeship was put into place due to alleged financial irregularities and non-compliance of various policies and bylaws,” Hodge said in the release. “In our investigation, we identified that there were definite financial irregularities and, as part of our regular procedure, have asked to have a police investigation into these irregularities.”

The press release went on to say that because there is an active police investigation, no further details could be released about the nature of the allegations, but the Royal Canadian Legion would keep members informed about the “progress of the branch operations and its operations.”

Achim Sen, one of two trustees appointed to take over operations of the branch, said the branch was closed Oct. 5 and reopened Nov. 1.

Sen confirmed the police investigation was being handled through the Nanaimo RCMP detachment, but could not provide further details.

According to the press release, the trusteeship would continue until “the legion is confident the branch can once again sustain itself.”

https://www.nanaimobulletin.com/news/royal-canadian-legion-places-branch-10-harewood-under-temporary-trusteeship/?fbclid=IwAR0X-7oREt2an8eE3jCHJVCQW4U8pKfsRqDYYq_iWz69q4xL4Nc0HjVm9JM

by **Vizzer** Wed 12 Dec 2018, 8:14 am

Legion Veterans Village to be a centre of excellence

Journal of Commerce . December 12, 2018

Royal Canadian Legion - Topics & Posted Articles - Page 12 FEATURED-MAIN-Legion-village-2-1024x768

WENSLEY ARCHITECTURE LTD. - Construction is slated to start this spring on the $310-million Legion Veterans Village complex in Surrey, B.C., that will feature a massive new Legion branch along with housing and treatment and recreation facilities dedicated to serving the needs of Canada's veterans and first responders.

Construction is expected to begin this spring on a unique $310-million Legion Veterans Village (LVV) complex in Surrey, B.C., that will feature a massive new Legion branch along with housing and treatment and recreation facilities dedicated to serving the needs of Canada’s veterans and first responders.

The initial phase of the project entails building a $110-million, 21-storey mixed-use building with 48 affordable housing units for veterans and their families and 148 market housing units.

The tower will also include a 10,500-square-foot Legion space, a Centre of Excellence in PTSD and Mental Health and an Innovative Centre for Rehabilitation that will provide rehabilitation services for veterans.

The second phase will cost about $200 million and involves building a 26-storey tower that will contain 325 market housing units.

This gives the redevelopment a total of 473 market homes.

The new project, designed by Wensley Architecture Ltd., will replace Whalley Legion Branch 229. The original architectural concept for the project was inspired by the Canadian National Vimy Ridge Memorial in France that is dedicated to the memory of Canadian soldiers who served in the First World War.

David Whittier, executive director of the Royal Canadian Legion BC/Yukon Command, which is partnering with developer Lark Group on the project, said he’s pleased the shovels will soon be in the ground.

“From a Legion perspective, this project is exciting, because it shows how the Legion, industry and government can work together to not only provide a stable future for a branch, but to provide mental health services and affordable, accessible housing for veterans and others in need,” he said.

Both phases of the project were unanimously approved by Surrey City Council at a meeting Oct. 1. Demolition of the Whalley Legion will start in March and phase one of the project is expected to be completed in February 2022. Occupancy is expected shortly after that.

Lark Group and the Legion are now working to secure a temporary space for the Legion to continue operating during construction of the new facilities.

Whittier said the project is important because it will house Canada’s first Centre of Excellence that focuses on PTSD and mental health issues and delivering help for veterans and first responders with problems.

Renderings of the project show a three-storey building with the towers on either side. Units in the towers have unobstructed views of the surrounding area.

Rowena Rizzotti, vice-president of health care and innovation for Lark Group, said the two buildings are symbiotic, as the value generated by the market housing project allows development of the veterans’ project.

“The Veterans Village development will be a catalyst for change in the area, which is situated between two rapidly developing nodes within the city,” she said. “The project benefits from being within walking distance of amenities, recreation facilities, SkyTrain station and city hall.”

The original rendering for the village was designed by architect Michael Green of Vancouver who wanted to incorporate the symbolism of the Vimy Memorial in France into the project.

Rizzotti said the design team was faced with several challenges in coming up with plans for the project, as there were community planning rules that restricted height of the structures, yet it wanted to create a development that would act as a nucleus for future revitalization and developments.

“The development responds in a meaningful way in all these areas,” she said, “as well as to create a highly liveable housing option for residents of North Surrey.”

The initial vision of the project proposed in 2015 was for a landmark tower, but it was changed in 2016 and redesigned by Wensley Architecture – with a significant housing component added to the redevelopment to improve the proceeds and support the institutional facility, Legion and supportive housing.

“We need to ensure it was feasible and, importantly, affordable for agencies to operate in a Class A building and that it would become a replicable model that other Legions across the country could consider as they look at the future needs in their local communities.”

Rizzotti said the intent is to create a true centre of excellence for veterans, first responders and their families. The one-of-a-kind, multi-purpose project is envisioned to be the first of many such projects across Canada.

A key priority of the centre will be the integrated delivery of a continuum of programs and services. Veterans and first responders will also contribute innovative research towards new practices, interventions and technologies, supporting multiple disciplines in engineering, rehabilitation, mental health and advancements in neuroscience.

Rizzotti said pre-sales for residential units in the first tower will start in April. Start of construction on the second tower will be assessed once pre-sales on the first phase have begun.

A team of companies is collaborating on the project. In addition to Lark Group and Wensley Architecture, the team consists of structural engineer Bryson Markulin Zickmantel, mechanical engineer Williams Engineer, and electrical engineer Colwin Electric. The project has not yet gone to tender for trade selections.

Royal Canadian Legion - Topics & Posted Articles - Page 12 FEATURED-SECOND-Legion-village-1-300x173

https://canada.constructconnect.com/joc/news/projects/2018/12/legion-veterans-village-centre-excellence

by JAFO Wed 12 Dec 2018, 5:27 pm

I really hope this is a turning point for the Legion. Is this whole idea going to be for veterans or is the Legion going to officially become a 'landlord'?

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