Members of 99-year-old Halifax legion want answers as branch set to close

Members of a Halifax Royal Canadian Legion branch say they are being denied the opportunity to save their location from closure despite a plan to improve finances. Executives with Vimy Branch 27 were informed last month by the Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command that the branch would be closing due to financial difficulties.

Financial Struggles Following Lottery Licence Loss

“There was no due process, no nothing for the members, and they’ve been slighted and left in the dark,” said Gwen Hayden, the branch’s longtime secretary. The branch has faced financial hardship since losing its lottery licence last year after its former vice-president misappropriated more than $25,000 from Chase the Ace draws. More details on the lottery incident can be found here.

Hayden stated that staff have been attempting to recover lost revenue through other fundraising events, but the loss of the lottery licence significantly impacted their income. “Chase the Ace was our big money-maker. Every Friday we’d have the draw and when we lost that, that was a lot of our income,” she said.

Branch Operations and Future Plans

The branch, with approximately 350 members, was closed for three months last year while the province’s gaming authority investigated the Chase the Ace draws. Hayden said a board appointed by the Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command to oversee operations has excluded staff and members from discussions about the branch’s future.

“None of us has been able to do our jobs since they came and took over,” she said. Since reopening, the branch has not held regular monthly meetings to update members and allow them to vote on operations.

The branch’s executive team presented a business plan to the Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command outlining strategies to increase revenue. Initially, the plan was overlooked, but they were able to present it to Command staff at a meeting Wednesday night. The meeting left members of the executive team more optimistic about the legion’s potential to remain open, though no guarantees were made, Hayden said.

Some members have retained legal counsel, who sent a letter to the Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command threatening legal action if the branch is closed without proper investigation, consultation, or due process.

Community Impact

The Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command declined an interview request. In an email, executive director Carrie Hogan said they appreciate the members and volunteers of the branch, acknowledging Vimy Branch 27’s “proud and longstanding history of service.”

Leslie Coyle, a 30-year member of the legion, said the organization provided support during a car accident several years ago. “Legions are the heart of any community and the people are what makes it the best,” she said.

Coyle believes the actions of a few individuals should not penalize the veterans and community members who rely on the legion for support. “We’ve had a couple of, sort of, bad eggs,” Coyle said. “But I feel that one bad egg doesn’t spoil the bunch.”