As Royal Canadian Legion turns 100, free memberships available through 2026
By Leslie Cholowsky, Editor
The Royal Canadian Legion is 100 years old this year, and is celebrating by offering free membership for one year.
The Killam Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion is honouring that membership extension for all of 2026.
Killam Legion Branch President Bud James says, “We are 100 years out from an all-consuming world war, and generations removed from the veterans who fought in the war.
“For many, it’s not so top-of-mind.”
So what does it take to become a Legion Member? Well, it’s not so hard as you might have thought.
James says Legion Membership is open to anyone who thinks they subscribe to the values of the organization as a whole.
He says the Killam Branch has already seen some growth from the free membership program.
Traditionally, Legion membership required you to be a veteran or serving member of the armed forces or RCMP, or to have a family connection to someone who did. But the Legion now welcomes members from all across Canada.
James says applicants without a direct connection to a veteran will be considered Associate Members, who now have the ability to vote.
That’s something that’s changed over the past few years, and hopefully hasn’t come too late for the small rural legion branches in the region.
James says the Killam Legion Branch has taken on a few new members over the past few years. He says some of these new members want to try new things to get the message out that the Legion is here and is welcoming. “That’s very encouraging.”
Especially in the wake of two neighbouring Legion branches giving up their charters in recent years: Sedgewick and Daysland.
James said members of the Killam Branch attended a meeting this spring with other local legions (Alliance, CJ Kinross in Lougheed, and Hardisty) with the intent of finding out what each branch was doing, where they are at, and more.
“We wanted to see if there’s an opportunity for each of the branches to grow and stay viable.”
James says the meeting was extremely productive, with great conversations. “We will meet again, to support each other and share ideas.”
The Legion was formed April 10, 1917, originally the ‘Great Wars Veterans Association.’ (GWVA) It was formed in response to urgent needs of returning Veterans.
Canada’s Veteran Affairs says, “Many had been wounded or disabled during the First World War, and government support for their recovery and reintegration was limited.
The association advised the Canadian government on the development of programs like the Soldier Settlement Act, which helped Veterans transition back into civilian life by providing land for farming.”
Over the next eight years, some 14 or 15 national veterans groups and many different local associations were formed as returning soldiers sought help. The GWVA became the largest association of its kind, advocating for Veterans for pensions, medical care, and social support.
It laid the foundation to unite all the different Veteran’s support groups into a single national organization.
That goal was realized in 1926 with the founding of the Canadian Legion.
James says the overall mission for the Legion has not changed: The Royal Canadian Legion’s mission is to serve Veterans – including serving military and RCMP members and their families; to promote Remembrance, and to serve their communities and country.
“From our perspective, it’s a big thing to make sure people pause on Remembrance Day. We need as a society to seek to understand the cause of war because we don’t want to go through it again.”
If anyone thinks that their values align with the mission statement, then James urges them to take advantage of a free year of membership and try on their local Legion for size.
He says the Killam branch has recently brought some new events to the branch.
That includes a pub night – open to members and guests, held every other week; a planned monthly market, and an upcoming car show.
To celebrate the 100th anniversary, James says that Killam, like other local branches, has some special things planned.
“We have received permission from the Town of Killam to put a ‘We Remember’ crosswalk in front of the school.” He says that’s still in the design phase.
Another project launched to celebrate the 100th anniversary is in partnership with the Battle River Pipes and Drums, in an effort to bring 100 pipers and drummers to the annual Killam Rodeo Parade, held each June.
“We have invited pipers and drummers from all across Western Canada to join with the Battle River Pipes and Drums to lead the parade,” James says.
He’s also hopeful that the Killam Chamber, who hosts the parade each year, will consent to having the Royal Canadian Legion’s 100th anniversary as this year’s theme.
“The Branch will have a presence in this year’s parade as well,” he adds.
James says the Killam Legion Branch has a good mix of members, and that they are pleased to get input from multiple generations. “We have an engaged membership.”
He stresses that all Flagstaff Legion Branches are planning their own way to commemorate the 100th anniversary.
James says that the Killam Branch is 98 years old this year, and in two years will be planning their own 100th anniversary.
We hope to feature all of the local Legion branches over the next few weeks to see how they faring and how they, too, will plan to celebrate the 100th anniversary.
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