With well over 100 members of the provincial organization in town for the annual event over four days during the Oct. 19 weekend, dozens of items were brought to the table and dealt with, including a look at membership numbers that drove plenty of discussion.
The conversation there involved increasing the number of ordinary members in the organization – originally, ‘normal’ member spots were reserved for military veterans and associates for their sons and daughters. The normal provision was recently expanded to include municipal police and RCMP, and delegates at this past convention were asked to include first responders, such as firefighters, paramedics and EMTs.
“The resolution that came to the table was regarding the other people who serve our country, our province and our towns, which are the first responders, the fire departments and those sorts of people,’ said Chad Wagner, provincial executive director for Saskatchewan Command.
“We’re really just trying to figure out ways to include more people, become more relevant to veteran programs and membership drives what we do,” he added. “Without memberships and people in the front level, it’s very difficult for us to bring in the funds and programs to help out veterans. So we do need to have those grassroots people and it doesn’t happen without members.”
In the end, the resolution did pass and will be taken to the Dominion conference in Saskatoon.
“We’re almost 100 years old and we’re trying to change things largely in the last 10 years,’ Wagner added. “So you’re trying to change 90 years worth of history, it’s challenging but it’s still democratic and the most important part is we’re still providing services to veterans and making sure they’re our first priority. So that’s why you see those kind of emotions, because there is such a rich history.”
Saskatchewan Legion president Lorne Varga felt that on a whole the conference was a success, with plenty accomplished through the weekend.
“It’s gone very well, there hasn’t been too much controversy and we’ve been through a few resolutions we had to solve, that wasn’t too difficult,” he said. “Hopefully next convention we get a few more people and see a bit more involvement.”
The weekend included a parade and wreathe laying at the Crescent Park cenotaph on the Saturday afternoon, followed by the opening ceremonies at St. Andrew’s Church, featuring 2011 national Silver Cross mother Patricia Braun as the guest speaker.
