Royal Canadian Legion Branch 23 has lost its charter

Branch 23 Royal Canadian Legion has lost its charter.

Few details are being released at this time, however The Nugget has been told by numerous sources a meeting was held Thursday where the news was delivered.

One member said there was about 25 to 30 people who attended the meeting at Royal Canadian Legion Branch #445 in Callander.

Another attendee said there were individuals from provincial command in attendance.

“We had two choices, either hold an election and vote in a president, first and vice chair and treasurer as they all resigned,” the legion member said.

“We were told if there were no nominations Branch 23 would not exist.”

The members said there wasn’t enough volunteers to fill the vacant positions.

Many of the Branch 23 members have decided to transfer their membership to the Callander legion.

The Nugget reached out to Mike Harrison, owner of New Ontario Brewing Co. for comment.

He said he had further discussions with the branch, but was waiting for them to make the next move.

Harrison had offered the branch to use space at his business where they could hold meetings and gather, which would allow them to keep their charter.

He said he hadn’t heard a decision was made.

“We had worked together for a while to figure something out. It stalled out a few months ago,” Harrison said.

“(It’s a) big loss to our community losing the charter.”

Harrison, a veteran of Afghanistan and in the Royal Canadian Air Force, stated in a previous interview it’s important to us that the legions exist.

“The legion can’t go away, there are too many people who depend on them. They are an organization in charge of remembrance, they are the organization in charge of that first level of outreach to veterans who are in need of help. They provide housing, clothing and all sorts of positive things to veterans who are down on their luck.”

Emails sent to Royal Canadian Legion Provincial Command were not returned.