As the Royal Canadian Legion marks its 100th anniversary in 2026 and offers free membership for new members, some local branches say they still need more young volunteers.
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As Canadian families mark Remembrance Day, members of Royal Canadian Legion branches in Vancouver and Penticton say they are welcoming new faces while worrying that younger people are not getting as involved as they hope.
In Vancouver, Diane Janes, president of the Grandview-Collingwood Legion Branch 179, said she grew up attending Remembrance Day ceremonies with her father, a Second World War veteran, who rarely spoke about his experiences.
Janes also described thinking of her grandmother, who had six sons serve in the Second World War and one who did not return home, adding, “I’m grateful to be here because of them.”
Janes said her branch has grown to nearly 800 members, but she is urging younger generations to take on more work inside the Legion. “I’m always crying for volunteers. We need the younger generation to step up,” she said.
She said the branch has tried to attract younger members by bringing in live music and hosting fundraisers aimed at a younger crowd.
The Legion is celebrating its 100th anniversary throughout 2026, including a push that lets new members join for free.
Allen McNeil, a service officer for the Penticton Legion branch, said the free membership has brought “hundreds” of new members into the branch after its membership had been declining.
McNeil said the Penticton branch had to sell its building and lease a smaller one, but he added that he worries some newcomers are mainly interested in affordable drinks and “coming in here to have a good time.”
He said only about six members are actively invested in keeping the Legion going, including maintaining the space and raising awareness, though he is hopeful that more involvement now will build participation later.
McNeil said Remembrance Day in Penticton typically has more than 1,000 people attending, and that this year the ceremony is moving outside to the city’s cenotaph.
In Vancouver, Janes said her branch holds a ceremony at the cenotaph in nearby Grandview Park, and that attendees march back to the Legion branch for a program with band performances and guest speakers.
Janes said she visits her father’s grave each year to place a poppy down, along with ones at her stepfather’s grave and the branch’s past president’s grave.
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