Honouring and celebrating Canadas heroes. Honour Book Release & Veterans Tribute Dinner Thursday, November 18th 4:30pm - 7:00pm, at Chartwell Classic Oakville Join us as we pay tribute to our veterans. Chartwell Seniors Housing is proud to launch Honour, a new book commemorating Canadas WWII veterans. This book captures the unique and compelling stories of 35 quiet heroes living in Chartwell residences across Canada. Please RSVP to Jaime or Michelle. Visit us at www.chartwellreit.ca 17 W ednesday , N ovem ber 10, 2010 O A KVILLE BEA V ER w w w .o akvillebeaver .co m credits a great administrative team. People always donate to the Legions Poppy Fund and support the Legion as it, in turn sup- ports local veterans and the community. While its in business to support veterans, the local Legion also invests, through fundraisers like Bingo, in support of youths in the community, the Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH) and equipment purchases for the hospital, the Salvation Army in Oakville or Fareshare food bank. The money does not help the Legion with its daily business. And though its numbers may be on the decline, business is booming at 36 Upper Middle Rd. Fish Fry Fridays, which are open to the community, draws upwards of 190 people every second week. Thats a lot of fish and chips, laughed Shields. The Legion may get involved in the com- munity, but it does not get involved in politics. It does support Canadas troops, at home, when they get home and abroad. It runs Red Shirt Fridays at its fish-fry events and gets a great turn out assisted by Legion members and local high school stu- dents earning community service credits. Who there, wouldnt red wear to support the troops? asked Brian Ray, who was the branchs second vice president last year. Ray said he joined the Legion to give back to a country that has been good to him. Its part of giving back to the community and country, said Ray. The Legion member said it was his idea to adopt the tradition of red shirt Fridays to the Legions fish fry Fridays after visiting an American Legion post stateside. According to Ray, its a takeoff of Red Shirt Fridays, begun by widows and mothers of those coming home in caskets from Afghanistan. For those who wear predominantly red, theres a chance the cost of their $9 per person fish dinner will be taken care of by the Legion branch. Theres incentive, a fish hook in there, said Ray. Any vet that loses their life, even in a peacekeeping mission, theyre still quite dead, said Shields, explaining it is an Oakville Branch tradition to lower the Canadian flag to half-mast in remembrance of the person when a Canadian military person is killed. Shields ought to know. He served in the North Atlantic and English Channel, France, Germany, Antwerp and Belgium, taking con- voys to Europe for the Allied troops advancing after D-Day. We support our troops 100 per cent, said Shields, adding the branch donates to the Comfort Fund for people currently serving in Afghanistan. While many may think of the Legion as a place to drink, many may not realize it is so involved in the community. In the past, the Oakville Legion has sup- ported Oakville Care-A-Van, charitable founda- tions, veterans hospitals, girls and boys minor hockey, wheelchairs to veterans, public speak- ing contests, and local swim teams. Among its various fundraisers are Legion activities such as darts, euchre, meat draws, dinners, dances, special occasion parties and more. For more information, call the Oakville Legion at 845-6271. raises funds, which it gives back to the com- munity, particularly Ian Anderson House and Carpenter House, cadets and other local agen- cies. Some of its fundraisers include golf tourna- ments, shuffle board, darts, euchre, karaoke, fish fry, Saturday night entertainment, din- ners, and Sunday specials. In his 50s, Landers said he has belonged to the Legion for 25 years, having joined because his dad, Tom Landers, was in the military. Today, people join the Legion for its sports and events, its a place to socialize and to respect veterans, said Landers, admitting the Legion always does what it can to help veter- ans and at this point, it may be mostly a mat- ter of donating to retirement homes and hos- pices. Still, veterans are at the Legion. Landers said Sam Forbes, a veteran who was captured at Dieppe, and who is an Oakville Legion mem- ber, comes to the Bronte Legion every Monday with his son to participate in activities. Members may be plentiful, but volunteers are always sought, said Landers, noting the Legions ladies auxiliary has had to discontin- ue simply due to logistics. Like all Legions, the Bronte branch is involved in youth education, the annual Poppy Campaign, and more. Were not a bunch of drunks, said Landers. The perception out there is, and its annoying, that the people going to the Legion are a bunch of old people who are sitting around drinking and thats not true. The Bronte Legion is busy, financially secure, owns its own building and gratefully welcomes new members, particularly those who want to get involved. As Landers maintains, There will always be a Legion. Continued from page 15 Bronte Legion on firm foundation Red Fridays at Oakville Legion Continued from page 11 Oakville Legion President Bill Shields