MOOSE JAW — A new chapter has begun for Moose Jaw’s Royal Canadian Legion, as the veterans’ organization has moved into a bright new building that is easily accessible for its “more mature” members.
Branch No. 59 officially opened its new venue at 693 Fairford Street West on May 9, with the first official activity being veterans’ coffee hour at 9:30 a.m.
Veteran Alex Cameron was one of the first members for coffee — the seventh person, to be precise, he pointed out — and thought the new venue was great since the organization wasn’t “in the bunker anymore,” compared to the dark
“It’s bright and it echoes,” he said.
Cameron thought moving to a new space would be great, considering the branch occupied its previous location for 99 years and faced “expenses, expenses, expenses” since 2020. At the Fairford location, though, he expected costs to be much lower.
“And we’re going to be a happy home,” he added.
In reply, Rick Murray, a fellow veteran sitting across from Cameron, humorously said, “And we’re already chucking (stuff) at each other, so it is going to be a happy home.”
Meanwhile, Murray said it was a “new experience” to be one of the first to visit the Legion’s new home. Glancing around, he thought the room looked nice and appreciated how much natural light the skylights and windows provided.
“It’s smaller, but it’s bright and clean and it’s new,” he stated.
Murray, who served with the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1965 to 1977, also appreciated how the new lounge’s tables and chairs were set up, but thought that arrangement would likely change in a few months as the organization determined how best to use the space.
“Give us a week. Once we get a hundred people in here, things will change … ,” he added with a laugh. “(But) it feels like (home) already because … the coffee guys are all here. … The camaraderie is still here.”
Christine Simpson, the branch president, was also thrilled with the new building, especially the skylights and the fans to keep the room cool. She said the venue presented “a new face to the Legion” and thought it would be great for members and the community.
Continuing, she said that residents were encouraged to visit and suggest possible improvements, which is what some members had already done 30 minutes after opening. Yet, she was thankful for the help that contractors, sub-contractors and members gave to transform the building.
Meanwhile, there were still plenty of things to do, including unpacking dozens of boxes and hanging pictures, murals and plaques, the branch president pointed out. They had already hung the dartboards and installed a D-Day diorama/painting and a bell from the Second World War-era ship HMCS Moose Jaw.
The new venue is 315 square metres (3,500 square feet) in size, which is “a little smaller” than the previous basement lounge, said Simpson. So, she figured the organization would continue moving around furniture for a while until it found the right combination.
It’s “awesome” that there are no steep stairs required to enter the building — or an elevator to wait for — since there are many members “who are more mature” and may have mobility issues, she continued.
“It’s one big room. It brings people together. It’s like home … ,” she stated. “It’s really amazing.”
Simpson added that this is a new chapter in Branch No. 59’s life in Moose Jaw, while she was eager to celebrate the organization’s centennial next year with the community.
