Royal Canadian Legion Branch #6 is turning to the community to raise money to help keep daily operations running. (Photo Courtesy Ross Lavigne)

By Gates Guarin

RCMP investigating $64K misappropriated funds

Redcliff Legion turning to community to help keep doors open

Dec 5, 2022 | 4:23 PM

REDCLIFF, AB – Driving through the heart of Redcliff, it’s hard to miss the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #6. The Legion recently celebrated its 96th year of service to veterans, and current president Michael Lee Sanders wants to see it make it to 100.

“We’re at the heart of the community,” Sanders says. “We support not only veterans, but we have somewhere safe for other families to come and call on us if we’re able to help.”

But a full audit called by Sanders when he took over as president in April of last year found close to $64,000 in funds were misappropriated. The matter is currently being dealt with by RCMP, but has left the non-profit organization with a considerable financial burden. Now, the Legion is reaching out to the community to help keep it running.

“The impact to us, the Legion, the veterans, it’s taken a big strain on the executive trying to keep the Legion open,” Sanders says. “Without the support of the community, the Legion is likely to come to an end, and for this community, that would be huge.”

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Jamie Billings is a member of the Legion and head trainer for Meliora Service Dogs. He utilizes the space to help train service dogs for first responders and former members of the military, and says Redcliff would be losing its hub should the Legion close.

“There’s 300 some-odd members here in the Legion,” Billings says. “I hope they start to rally to provide the funds the Legion needs to keep it running.”

Several long-standing members of the Legion are also hoping the community shows their support for the branch. Pierre D’Amour has been a member for over 40 years, and says the activities and camaraderie are what keep him coming through the doors.

“I come here and enjoy the meat draws on Saturdays, and dancing. It’s pretty nice and you don’t want to lose that. The activities that we have here all the time and some of the people too. You meet your friends here, it’s really good,” D’Amour says.

Dennis Rathwell, a 54-year member, says the veterans are the most important part for him.

“That’s why the Legion came about, to do with our veterans, and our past and present,” Rathwell says. “To me, they’re the main reason why I come in here.”

“We’re really asking for the community to come out, help, do what they can…” _{-Michael Lee Sanders, Redcliff Legion President}

Both D’Amour and Rathwell hope the community supports the Legion when they most need it, as any member of the public is able to come in and have a drink or a meal.

“You’re most welcome to come in here anytime that you want,” says Rathwell. “By doing that, you’re supporting our branch, and hopefully things will get better.”

“We should try to keep it, try the best you can, try to help us. Some things happen that’s beyond your control, but let’s hope we can get it going, keep on going. Don’t close the doors,” adds D’Amour.

Any money raised will be towards paying down the general debt, daily upkeep and building maintenance, something needed for the almost century-old establishment. The Legion will be hosting several events for the community, such as a new year’s eve gala on Dec. 31. A GoFundMe has also been set up by facilities manager Simone Stern, which will be matched up to $20,000 by a retired member of the military community.

READ MORE: Retired military member offering to match $20 k in donations to Save Our Legion Go Fund Me campaign

“Having the GoFundMe is a very important item that is going to help us immensely with paying down our current debt, and then being able to update our facility, getting grants and those kinds of things,” Stern says. “We’re not just for the veterans, it’s a community establishment. We’re serving our community, that’s what we’re here for, as well as our vets and their families.”

Sanders suggests that each member of Medicine Hat and Redcliff donate a single dollar to the Legion, which would cover the entirety of the missing funds. He says he hopes to get the Legion back on track before the slower summer months, and by getting this message out to the community, will keep the Legion’s doors open for the next four years and beyond.

“We’re really asking for the community to come out, help, do what they can- basically save our Legion,” Sanders says. “Your dollar may be the dollar that saves this Legion, and ultimately save the community and help our veterans.”