‘V0 Castlegar aoe Sept. 7 1967 A number of World War I i weterans | “met’at the home’ of “RYALD. a Nie in Castlegar .on Aug. 3,°1 Mr. : West chaired’ the’ meet- ing'and A, J. Cleeton acted as secretary. Charles ‘Middleton Of. Trail’ attended -the meeting: ‘re- garding’ the formation of a local Legion’: branch. :It:.was empha- : sized the ‘importance of forming allocal: ‘branch todeal with the “number : of eterais already. in the ‘idistrict.'and: also ‘the fact ‘that ‘at ‘the end of ‘World’ War I “many. younger veterans . would be s returning with the many problems of rehabilitation on re- turning to civilian ‘life. ‘ : ‘A ‘committee composed of Mr. ‘West; ..W.. Rigby, H. Hett and W..Butorac .was set up to a 3 an 1 Area Ts toe of Great Service — canvass all known veterans ‘and. to_ report at’a meeting’ to!:be; held on)Aug. 17..A': “favorable report was given by. the’) com- mittee: and: O.° B:Ballard':then moved ‘“‘that a branch of» the Canadian : Legion ‘be, formed ‘in the district.”’: George ‘M. : Miller. moved that the'branch be:known .as the: Castlegar-Robson: Branch of the Canadian Legion BESL. - - Officers® elected were: sMr. Cleeton, ‘president;" J.T, :Web- ster, vice-president; ’ ‘Dr...J. EB. Wright,’ secrétary, and: after: the death of Dr. Wright, G. R. Web- ster, one of ‘the: first’ new ‘ve- terans to.arrive home, assumed the duties of “secretary.” ‘Thus to the’ birth of the® Castlegar- “Rob; son Branch was announced. The Legion charter: was re- x CANADA'S FUTURE IS BRIGHT! - Harrys Dry Goods CONGRATULATIONS CANADA! Kootenay Nursery “The Garden Town of the Kootenays” : Pioneer Women Purchased Bolts of Cloth — And We're Pleased to be: Suppliers ‘to : the Smart. Sewers of Today, Car- Mil’s Fabrics ” Located Next to Castlegar Credit ‘Union: ceived on Feb. 5 1943‘ and con- tained the following names, ma- ny of. whom have passed’ on:, A.J. Cleeton, J.T. G.. R: Webster, H. ett, E, Ps Rock, Dr. J.B. Wright, S. "Hump- hries,’.C.:.R,.Berry,’ R.\G. Me-; Donald, J.2C.: Waldie, R. H. De- vitt; O. B. ‘Ballard, G. ‘M. Miller, DL Lyons, R.A: 'D. West;: Wm. Rigby:'and: H..R...Foxlee. i as ‘‘Branch: No. 170 .Castlegar- Legion”... was now. in. operation with:'the ‘duly’ elected : officers installed ‘and’ Mr. West. offered his smallhall as’a meeting: place. Attendance grew and meet-|- ings -were -held’\in the’ larger halls‘at’Robson and the Parish Hall. ‘In’ 1945'a movement. was proposed: to: have a permanent home for the branch and nego- tiations were undertaken to: ob- tain one of the.vetetan’s guard buildings ‘ from. Tadanac: and property. was secured: from the department of highways. A° work party’ ‘sparked. ‘by. the older veterans: and some of the new veterans started the:dis- mantling of the. Tadanac_build- jing: ‘and: transporting’ it to ‘the new ‘site’'and: erection of ‘the new hall. The’ first meeting was held in -the present hall- on Feb. 18, will in the chair. ‘The property. on which’ the: present’ hall’ ‘is situated was ‘finally purchased by: the: branch. ooo The *-list of presidents of. ‘the: Legion ‘shows: a’ fine cross, section of citizens of the: district and includes the following men: A.’ J.'Cleeton, R: A. D. West, S. Humphries, S. Horswill, J. T. Webster, A. J. Martin, A. A. Lamb, ‘Earl: ‘Norris; -M. 5. MG, ran, Wm. Reed, A.J. Weir; H. C. Pitts, R: Wadey, J. H. Leckie, F. Bacon, P: -Ewart,-C. Pepper, H. Bate, J..Green’ and J. Holden. The end. of World ‘War: IL saw the return of‘ many vete- rans to their home in the district and’ enrollment in) the “Legion was quite heavy and member- ship’rose to nearly, 300 and has remained fairly .well ‘at that ‘fi- gure: over ‘the ‘ years.’. were awarded -to Wm. Houston; Al’Horswill and Percy Owls who had®.all ‘lost sons in’: the war and ‘all had performed long and faithful services to the branch. Mr:-Houston was secretary for a number. of “years and‘ his’ help and guidance was: very much ap- preeiated by the branch. ‘Life memberships have been awarded for. long®and: valuable service to. the branch to J. T. Webster, Wm.° Rigby, J. Mac- ‘Donald, . H.-C. Pitts; A. Lamb hand: R. ‘Wadey. Membership has been as high’ as 287. At the present time membership includes: é ‘life*-members 5 The new. branch designated’ a Robson’'Branch of the Canadian | 1947 ‘with’ president: Stan ‘Hors-. ~ Honorary -life memberships A ‘Webster. | am amount of: onien involve uld:‘be:, made’ known: through; treasurer: Bob ‘Wadey.’ as! compil- ‘ed for: the’ ‘years’: '1958-1966:: ~~ ‘Purchases and” wreaths ‘and poppies, . Vet Craft of Canada’ $5,055.85, transient: :veterans’ welfare $684.27, , local ‘veterans-welfare $4,829. 55, scho- larships and: - bursaries ..$750, Scouts and’ Cubs $366.23, local sports . $405.20, .-zone ‘Legion sports. $1,592.63; local .. general welfare $2;675.19, command Cen- .tennial fund,:.$1, 204. These - amounts: down ‘toa yearly. average of $2;195:36,' a substantial‘amount' form < one ‘service organization ‘ of the com- munity. In addition; Branch 170 com- pletely equipped one ward in.our | local ‘hospital, ‘has.'made™avail- able ‘the Legion; Hall on’ a ‘great many. occasions ‘for struggling organizations’ free,’ was..a. prime | ‘sales’, of'|' Tt 4g interesting to: note that | || the year 1966 showéd an ‘increase of’ 8 percent ‘in: enrollment. and iH that many: ‘of this’ ‘increase: has ‘s‘being « dis- |. charged * from‘