New sign beautifies Canadian Legion Gardens

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This article was published 02/10/2013 (4419 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Residents at Canadian Legion Gardens are pleased to see things being spruced up around the facility.

In particular, a new sign was unveiled on Sept. 26 at 675 Talbot Ave. to help bring a little pride to the housing site for veterans and their families.

The new sign, which is arched on the top, sports the Royal Canadian Legion logo and Canadian Legion Gardens’ name and address, and replaces the old marker that zone commander

George McCall has been told was the original when the facility was built in the 1950s.

“Many years ago, I used to live just around the corner,” said McCall, who now lives in North Kildonan. “I would come past here, take a look at it. It was deteriorating.

“I thought it was about time to get something done that these people can be proud of.”

McCall said local legion branches, including Elmwood Legion Branch No. 9, Prince Edward Legion Branch No. 81, Henderson Highway Branch No. 215 and Zone 64 ponied up the approximately $1,500 cost to get the new sign created and installed.

“Without the support, this wouldn’t be a reality,” McCall said. “It’s them that actually deserve the credit and everything for it.”

While Canadian Legion Gardens residents are glad to see the sign updated, they fear some in the community may not respect it.

“Kids will have this down in two years,” said 25-year resident Bert Cheshire, saying the sign looks nice, but he wishes it was thicker to stand up to potential damage. “It should have been higher so they can’t get at it.”

Cheshire said there has been vandalism at the site in the past, as the Canadian flag has been stolen before.

Resident Ray Grouette, who served with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in Germany and Korea, said he hopes the sign helps continue a turnaround for the residence.

“Now it’s starting to look like what it’s supposed to look like,” said Grouette, who has lived at the Canadian Legion Gardens for nine years. “In the ’50s, when I came back from Korea, I delivered furniture here.

“Then, it was really nice. Now it’s kind of getting run-down a bit, but it seems to be picking up now.”

McCall added as part of the same project, the branches also contributed to a new sign at the Elmwood Cemetery commemorating a field of honour.

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