Duane Hicks
The Royal Canadian Legion Br. #29 has been working hard over the past 10 months to give the bar area a makeover and offer more to its patrons.
Now the Legion is inviting past, current, and new patrons—Legion members or not—to come out this Saturday night for a grand re-opening and “welcome back” celebration.
“We want to welcome back people who haven’t been here in a while,” said Legion vice-president Warren Anderson.
“We want everybody to realize it’s not the same old Legion it’s always been.
“The age of the crowd here on Friday nights when we have entertainment is everywhere from 19-90,” he added.
“You see that mix of people in here enjoying the entertainment.
“You can come here with a different group of people at different ages, and they can all have a good time,” Anderson noted.
The grand re-opening and welcome back event begins at 4 p.m.
Patrons can use the new jukebox for free from 4-9 p.m., socialize, and play pool, darts, and shuffleboard.
The evening also will feature all sorts of specials and prize giveaways.
Then after 9 p.m., popular local band “Thinking of Pinky” will take the stage until 1 a.m.
Anderson said a lot of work—and about $10,000—has gone into remodelling the bar area.
“The Legion needed a revamp,” he conceded, noting the project was a decision of the new Legion executive when it was voted in last May.
“The decor was getting old, lots of the colours were getting old, so basically we came up with a renovation committee which I was on myself, as well as some other gentlemen here,” he added.
“We felt it was time the Legion got a facelift.”
Since last May, the lower level of the Legion has undergone quite a few changes. One of the first was to move the 10’x10’ stage from the southwest corner of the bar area to the northeast corner and expand it to 14’x16’.
“The bands love it,” said Anderson.
The dart boards, which were scattered on both sides of the building, now are located along the west wall, and feature new carpet on the walls and new electronic dart counters.
The wainscoting on the walls is brand new, replacing the old panelling.
As well, the lounge now features four TV sets—one on each wall—so you can see them no matter where you sit.
The pool tables also have been refurbished with new felt, bumpers, and even new cues.
The bar itself has been repainted and has all new bar stools. It also features two service stations so two bar stewards can work on busy nights, improving customer service.
Not only does the revamped Legion bar look clean and welcoming, but there’s more for people to do.
A cribbage club plays each Sunday while the darts league goes every Wednesday.
Anderson said a pool league also will be starting up soon. And as always, people can play shuffleboard.
The Legion continues to hold a 50/50 draw the second Friday of each month, and a meat draw every Friday.
With the four new TVs, Anderson said people can come and watch their favourite sports event. Each one has its own receiver, so different sports can be viewed on each one.
“You can watch the hockey game if you’re playing pool,” noted Anderson. “If you’re out for dart night on Wednesday, you can have the hockey game on.
“On Sunday when crib is on, we’ve got NASCAR on,” he added.
“We’re hoping things like that bring people in.”
Bingo players even can drop by and play along with Lions TV Bingo each Thursday.
A popular draw at the Legion is live music, with local classic rock bands taking to the new stage twice a month.
“There’s not a lot of entertainment venues around the district anymore,” noted Anderson.
“And the Legion has always been a strong band venue,” he added.
“We’re back up to two weekends a month where we have entertainment.”
Upstairs at the Legion, the local ladies’ auxiliary holds its monthly dinner, with the next one coming up this Friday (Feb. 26).
“That’s fantastic; everybody loves that,” raved Anderson.
More generally speaking, the Legion rents out its hall and has meeting rooms available.
As well, the bar can be rented for birthday parties and anniversaries.
Looking ahead, Anderson said the Legion has started to “dabble” in more entertainment.
For example, upstairs at the Legion on April 28, there will be a Tina Turner tribute concert featuring Luisa Marshall, who is touring Legions across Canada on a Canadian veteran PTSD awareness tour.
“If that goes over well with the public, we’re going to bring in more acts like that, more special events,” Anderson said.
He noted the Legion only can make changes as their funds allow, and the renovations to the bar area are the first step of a larger plan to make improvements to other parts of the hall.
Legion membership
Anderson noted Legion membership has gone up in the past year—and that’s a promising sign.
But the local Legion, like many others, would love to see even more new faces.
“Our whole rejuvenation project is to try to get membership back up, and invite people back,” said Anderson.
Membership is open to anybody. All they have to do is pay a $40 annual membership fee.
Not only does this help support the Legion, but being a member gives you free admission to the live entertainment it stages twice a month.
Anderson said membership privileges will be reviewed in the near future and may apply to even more Legion events.
Legion members also can attend monthly general membership meetings and vote.
Anderson noted the Legion executive is volunteer-based, and they work hard with the Legion staff to keep things running.
While spending a night out at the Legion is a good time, and buying raffle tickets gives you a chance to win big, these also help support the Legion, which, in turn, supports many community services and projects.
“We’re a not-for-profit,” Anderson explained. “The monies we make we give right back to the community.
“The majority of the money that we do donate does stay locally,” he added.
“We try to give it to as many local groups as we can.”
For instance, the Legion buys equipment for La Verendrye Hospital and Rainycrest, helps Muskie sports teams with travel costs, and supports the Girl Guides, air cadets, and youth camps.
“That’s what we’re there for,” said Anderson.
In addition to the 50/50 and meat draws, the Legion also makes money with its annual poppy campaign.
“We’re trying to rejuvenate the Legion, let everybody we’re still here, and we’re a big part of the community,” Anderson reiterated.
“And as long as we can continue to bring in money to donate to charities and stuff, that’s what we’re going to do.”
To keep up with what’s going on at the local Legion, feel free to drop by, check out its Facebook page, and keep reading the Fort Frances Times.
