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THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION
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Overview
Largest Veterans Organization
Coast to Coast, in the USA
and in Europe
350,000 Members
1500 Branches
Dominion Command
(National Headquarters)
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History
Roots in the Great War Veterans Association
GWVA tried to establish a unified voice
to deal with government
The Amputations Association and
The Army and Navy Veterans in Canada
chose to remain independent
Today the Legion works along side
The War Amputations of Canada (WAR AMPS)
and The Army, Navy and Airforce Veterans in
Canada (ANAVETS) on Veterans issues
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The Role Of The GWVA
“Until the last veteran goes to his
resting place in the bosom of
mother earth, there will be problems
arising from war service. But the
major work of the GWVA in the
future will be nation building”.
(1924)
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Priorities Remain Constant
Veterans Care
Serving Members Care
The Perpetuation of
Remembrance
Community Service
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The Royal Canadian Legion
Letters Patent (Charter)
~ 1926
Act of Parliament
~ 1948
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Early Accomplishments
VETERANS CARE
War Veterans Allowance Act
~ 1928
Amend the Armistice Act to
entrench November 11 as
Remembrance Day
~ 1931
Veterans Land Act ~ 1943
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Early Accomplishments
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Formation of the CBC ~ 1928
Operation Fitness ~ 1946
Canadian Olympic Training Plan
~ 1956
Presentation to Rowell-Sirois
Commission on Dominion –
Provincial Relations ~ 1938
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The Legion’s Position
“A strong central government,
the patriation of a
Canadian Constitution
and the development
of an amending formula.”
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The Legion Today
350,000 Members
1,500 Branches
10 Provincial Commands
3 International Zones
More than 1,400 Full-Time Employees
More than 3,200 Part-Time Employees
More than $56 Million in Wages
$2.5 Million in Property Taxes
(More than 50% are exempt)
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The Legion Today
Veterans Activities ~ Volunteer Hours 700,000
Value
$8.5mil
Seniors Activities ~ Volunteer Hours 350,000
Value
$4 mil
Youth Activities ~
Volunteer Hours
Value
280,000
$3.5mil
Other Activities ~
Volunteer Hours
Value
490,000
$5.5mil
*Totals are approximate
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Membership Categories
Ordinary
Veterans and Military Personnel;
RCMP, RNC
Associate
Direct Relatives of Ordinary Members
Affiliate
Those who believe in the purposes
and objects of the Legion
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Current Programs
Support for Local Charities ~ $6.5 Million / year
Seniors Housing ~ 7,000 Units (Value ~ $222 Million)
Surveyor’s Program
National Track and Field Championships ~ $500,000
Pilgrimage of Remembrance
Terry Fox Centre ~ Encounters with Canada Program
National Essay and Poster Contests
National Remembrance Ceremony
Sponsor / Support Cadets ~
1,100 of 1,900 Units/Corps
Sponsor / Support Scouting and Guiding ~
690 Groups
Bursaries / Scholarships ~ $2.7 Million / year
Branch Youth Programs ~ $3.3 Million /year
Troop Support
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The Royal Canadian Legion
DEVELOPING
CANADA’S FUTURE
OLYMPIANS
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Our Youth Leaders – Pilgrimage
of Remembrace
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The Royal Canadian Legion
The Legion’s Annual
Remembrance
Poster and Literary Contest
Over 100,000 young Canadians
participating annually.
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The Royal Canadian Legion
SUPPORTING CANADIAN YOUTH AND
RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING CADETS
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The Royal Canadian Legion
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We Support Our Troops
Program
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Service Officer Support
Show Tour Support
Tim Horton Coffee & Donuts
$160,000/yr
RCN Centennial (2007, 2008, 2009)
Nijmegen March
Sport Sponsorship (16)
National Sport Awards & Ceremony
$ 20,000/yr
$ 7,000/yr
$ 16,000/yr
$ 17,000/yr
Operation Santa Claus
Operation Canada Day
3000 Chairs (2008)
$ 13,000/yr
$ 12,000/yr
$ 35,000
Landstuhl Fisher House
$ 20,000 USD
Current Programs
Total economic impact on
the communities is about
$375 million
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RCL Overview
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Poppy Campaign
Between 18 and 19 Million
Poppies Distributed Annually
Over $8 Million Each Year
For the Support of Veterans
and their Dependants
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Recent Accomplishments
VETERANS CARE
Immediate Indexing of medically released
CF members
Hong Kong POW compensation
Pension Act Revision: widows benefit from
reassessment of late husband’s pension rate
Amend Table of Disabilities to include PTSD
Disabled CF / RCMP to collect pensions
while serving
Definition of a “Veteran”
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Recent Accomplishments
VETERANS CARE
Merchant Navy compensation
Enhanced long term care
VIP for spouses for life
Enhanced POW compensation
Reinstatement of Educational Allowance
Reinstatement of Allied Vets
New Veterans Charter
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Current Advocacy Issues
VIP–Widows before 1981 and Frailty
Priority Access Beds–LTC Contract
Facilities
CFSA Survivor Benefits
NVC GAPS
Post 65 income gap
Income support while awaiting job
placement
Adjustment of base salary for
Earnings Loss calculation
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The Royal Canadian Legion
ALEXANDER MACKIE VETERANS’ AND
SENIORS’ LODGE – LANGFORD, BC
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The Service Bureau
A fully networked service of The Legion
that operates from coast to coast,
accepting and processing disability
claims from those who have served in
the military, merchant navy or RCMP.
The service officers ensure that the
claimant is represented at all levels of
the procedure from first application
through appeals to the final decision.
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Honorary Dominion Officers
Patron
His Excellency, The Governor General
Grand President
Larry Murray
Honorary Dominion Vice-President
The Chief of the Defence Staff
Honorary Dominion Vice-President
The Commissioner of the RCMP
Honorary Dominion Vice-President
HH Prince Floris, The Netherlands
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Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League
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Royal Commonwealth
Ex-Services League
Founded in 1921 as British Empire
Service League
Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New
Zealand, South Africa
United Advocacy
180 Veterans, 14 Caribbean Countries,
130 Widows
Over $300,000 annually in Assistance
CF Support
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Legion Projects
2 Minute Wave of Silence
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
War Memorial Interpretive Tablets
“The Valiants”
Canadian War Museum
New National Headquarters
Valour Bridge
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Authorities
Dominion Convention
Dominion Executive Council
Senior Elected Officers
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Dominion Command
Policy Development
DOMINION
CONVENTION
DOMINION
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
CANVET
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
VETERANS,
SERVICE
& SENIORS
SPORTS
SENIOR ELECTED
OFFICERS
POPPY &
REMEMBRANCE
MEMBERSHIP
VETERANS
CONSULTATION
GROUP
PUBLIC
RELATIONS
INVESTMENTS
DEFENCE
& SECURITY
FINANCE
CONVENTION
CONSTITUTION
& LAWS
RITUAL
& AWARDS
RCEL
AD HOC
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Dominion Command
Operations
DOMINION PRESIDENT
DOMINION SECRETARY
EDITOR &
GENERAL MANAGER CANVET
DIRECTOR COMMUNICATIONS
DIRECTOR SERVICE BUREAU
DIRECTOR ADMINISTRATION
DIRECTOR FINANCE
DIRECTOR SUPPLY & SALES
MEMBERSHIP SECTION
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The Royal Canadian Legion
Veterans Care
Remembrance
Seniors Care
Youth Development
National Defence
Unity
Advocacy
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RCL Overview
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