Legion seeks ways to boost membership

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This article was published 10/11/2010 (5724 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

West Kildonan Legion president Larry Kis­i­loski is expecting another full house for this year’s Remembrance Day service.

“It is our most popular event. We always have a filled hall — well over 200 people,” said Kisiloski, president of the Royal Canadian Legion’s West Kildonan Branch No. 30.

The event is so popular, in fact, that the branch is considering using both floors of its Main Street building to accommodate visitors that day.

“We could accommodate over 550 people then,” Kisiloski said.  

Despite the large turnout expected for the Nov. 11 service, the branch has been struggling to attract new members for the past several years.

Legion memberships have been steadily declining, which prompted officials to open their doors to the general public a few years ago.

“We want to remind everyone that while we are a veteran’s club, we are open to everybody and anybody,” Kisiloski said.

Low membership numbers have forced the closure of several Legion branches across the city.

 

Kisiloski said West Kildonan members don’t want to see that happen to their branch and have been working to ensure that it continues to thrive.

Bob Butt, national director of communications for the Royal Canadian Legion, said the decision to open branches to non-members was made in 2006.

Butt said response to the move has been very positive to date.

West Kildonan Ladies Auxiliary president Marion Robertson said the branch currently has 400 members.

“We used to be plus 600,” said Robertson, who has been a member of the branch since 1982.

Kisiloski said he is encouraged by the fact that the West Kildonan branch has one of the youngest memberships in the city.

The West Kildonan Legion Branch No. 30 is located at 1748 Main St. This year’s Remembrance Day events will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 11.

rob.brown@canstarnews.com