Welcome to Branch 233, Orangeville

We are reaching out to our community for help. Many of you have enjoyed a meal, played bingo or attended one of our many other events.   There have been many members over the years, perhaps even your parent or grandparent were a member. Almost everyone has fond memories of our Orangeville Legion which was founded back in 1935.

The legion supports our military veterans and their families. In our community our legion also donates to many charities including the food bank, hospital and gives support to seniors and youth in our town. Our legion is a nonprofit organization which is run by volunteers.  You don't have to have been a veteran to be a member, just have a desire to help us keep the Remembrance and help the community.

Due to having to close our branch back on March 16th because of Covid-19 our financial loss has been severe, as our branch’s income comes from renting our hall, as well as food and bar sales. Our president, Barry Kimber, put in an insurance claim for loss of income due to the outbreak, but we were denied as were all other legions in Ontario. Our branch was counting on receiving money from our insurance company, but since the claims were denied, we are asking for your help.  Some legion branches will not survive this.

Please make a donation to our Orangeville Legion, Branch 233 to help us to be able to continue making more great memories for the people of Orangeville.  Please remember every little bit helps, all small donations do add up, and we appreciate any help you can give.  Thank you

If you prefer to donate by cheque please contact the legion.  Thank you for your support!!!!

Please see on our Branch News Page, how you can send a letter to our MP to help petition for more support for the Legion Branches in Canada.

We wish to thank Cherrie Chivers for organizing and liaising with CDN Auctions of Orangeville for donations of items to be auctioned through the

m and their kind donation of their commission too!  

Don't miss out on bidding for the wonderful Pelican Canoe 15.5 foot generously donated by the Canadian Tire of Orangeville!!!!!

https://cdnauctions.hibid.com/catalog/237905/weekly-online-auction-450---closes-wednesday-october-7/

This week is the final week of auction of Legion donations.  If you have any small household items (appliances, antiques, tools, etc.)  please  call Cherrie or Jess right away to make arrangements.

www.cdnauctions.com

Good day one and all. 

Well, the donations just keep on coming in. Another company has stepped up to support the Orangeville Legion, Branch 233. We cannot speak enough about the generosity that has been demonstrated by those individuals and companies in the Orangeville area who care so much about “their” Legion. On Sept 20th, Pat Davidson, Jill Davidson and David Morgan of "Davidson's Electrical Service" stopped by the branch and presented our President, Barry Kimber with a cheque for $1,000.00. We of the Legion are extremely grateful for this. Don't know what we would have done if members of the community hadn't stepped up. The theme spoken so much of during this pandemic is to support local. This company did. Please keep them in mind if you have any electrical needs taken care. Support those who support others. Picture: Left to right, David Morgan, Pat Davidson, Barry Kimber, President of Br 233 and Jil Davidson. “Lest We Forget” “We Will Remember”.

Many thanks!

Comrades and friends of the R.C.L. Br 233 Orangeville. 

More good news about this community that we are a part of. This afternoon, Sept 20th, the branch was paid a visit by the Northerners MotorCycle Club. Just a fantastic bunch of riders from the local area who truly like the freedom of getting on their bikes and getting out and enjoying themselves. Not only did they come visit us, but a bunch of their friends as well (cars of course). It was great to see so many new people come and spend some time with us. But, there was an added surprise. They came to make a donation in support of this legion. Randy Duncan, who spoke for the group, let us know that a great many of the riders had relatives who had served this country of ours (W1/WW2), with some making the ultimate sacrifice. He further said, that as a group, the discussion had was that with the Legion being in need, they had to do something. He mentioned that due to the covid-19 crisis, their club has been unable to do any fundraising so they reached into their own pockets and were able to present our President, Barry Kimber with $1,000.00. That generosity is just unbelievable. Can't say enough good things about them. I would also like to mention a branch member, Ruth Ellis-Byers. A big thank you has to go out to Ruth for getting so many people involved in coming out today. That is the type of support that all legions need!

“Lest We Forget” “We Will Remember”

Many thanks,

Chuck

May 8th 2020 marked the 75th anniversary of the end of World War Two in the European theatre of operations with the surrender of Nazi Germany to the Allies.  We commemorate the sacrifices and the loss of life on both sides of this conflict in the fervent hope that this kind of global conflict never occurs again. 

On behalf of the Orangeville Legion; Barry Kimber (President), Chuck Simpson (1st Vice President), Chris Skalazob (Sgt-at-Arms), and Dave Burgess (Branch Bugler) met in the afternoon at the Orangeville cenotaph in Alexandra Park and commemorated V-E Day with a small service and the placing of a V-E Day wreath.  (More pictures below.)

More than one million Canadians and Newfoundlanders served in WWII.  Over 45,000 Canadians gave their lives, and an additional 55,000 were wounded. 

Many Canadians wore red on this day to commemorate the event and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.  The Royal Canadian Legion was holding a special photo event where you could send in your pics wearing red.  Wearing red on Fridays is a sign of Remembrance but this was of course, a very special Friday. 

There are fewer and fewer WWII veterans still left alive, but their contributions to keep us free, live on.

Lest We Forget.  We WILL Remember Them.

Comrades, 

Our branch is performing better on a 3-day schedule.  Our losses are less and more sustainable.  The fundraising initiatives and community support will keep us going for another year.  Our members, private citizens, local businesses, and local clubs have all been instrumental in dealing with our financial needs.  I can't say thank you enough.

I did apply for a "Resilient Communities Grant" through the Trillium Fund.  We should know by November if it was approved.  These funds, if approved, are not allowed to be used for general bills, but can pay for fundraising initiatives and covid supplies, like sanitizer and PPE.

At the time of this report, I'm waiting for a response from the Dufferin/Wellington Health Unit in regards to our poppy campaign.  Once we have more information, we will post on Facebook and our branch website.

Please see the direction from Ontario Command below in regards to Elections:

Branch Elections

a.   Any annual Branch Election, and Nomination Meeting (if applicable), previously scheduled for earlier in 2020 and subsequently suspended due to COVID-29 will be rescheduled to the appropriate date(s) in 2021 pursuant to their applicable Branch Regulations.

b.   Any biennial Branch Election (even-numbered years), and Nomination Meeting (if applicable) previously scheduled for 2020 and subsequently suspended due to COVID-29 will be rescheduled to the appropriate date(s) in 2022 pursuant to their applicable Branch Regulations unless the Branch through approval at a General Meeting chooses to exercise on of the following options:

c.   Process an Amendment to their Branch Regulations and approved by Command respecting resorting to a one-year term of office which will take effect on the 1st day of June 2021;

          or

     Convene the Elections, and Nomination Meeting (if applicable), on the appropriate day(s) as per their Branch Regulations, in 2021 to become a one-year Term of Office effective on the 1st day of June 2021 after which Elections and Nominations (if applicable) will revert back to a two-year term of Office becoming effective on the 1st day of June 2022.

In other word, Comrades, there will be NO elections until 2021 for those on a 1-year term.  All current officers will remain in place until elections are held next year.

I can't thank our Executive, Ladies Auxiliary, Community Partners and Citizens of Orangeville for their continued support.

Yours in comradeship, Lest We Forget

Barry Kimber, President, Branch #233