A familiar building on Broadway Street in the city faces a very uncertain future.
The Alexander Ross branch of the Royal Canadian Legion is in financial difficulty, and the hall has become a money pit of operational dollars, upkeep, and desperately needed upgrades.
鈥淭he last couple of years we鈥檝e kind of been working in the hole,鈥� Barry Whitehead, first vice-president of the local branch told Yorkton This Week. 鈥淲e鈥檙e having a hard time keeping up with the bills.鈥�
As a result the Legion is actually behind on some of its utility bills.
The situation prompted the Provincial Command of the Legion to visit recently to discuss the situation.
鈥淭hey recommended we sell the building and downsize,鈥� said Whitehead.
Sept. 14, the local branch is holding a special meeting to discuss the prospect of selling the Legion, but Whitehead admitted outside of a major benefactor stepping forward they will be selling the hall.
鈥淲e鈥檒l go someplace,鈥� he said, adding 鈥渨e鈥檒l probably operate out of here until it鈥檚 sold.
While day-to-day operations are in arrears, it is the needs of the building moving forward which necessitate the sale, said Whitehead.
鈥淚t鈥檚 probably half a million for repairs,鈥� he said, citing the need for a new boiler, lights, water heater and most importantly a new roof. 鈥淚t鈥檚 on and on.鈥�
As a result of the red ink, downsizing is under way. Gunner鈥檚 Lounge is closed, and with it several groups are out a place to hold their activities, a Saturday afternoon crib group, the city鈥檚 only steel-tip dart club, pool group and a spot on the soft-tip dart club tour around the city.
Friday Night Beef on a Bun is done.
And while the Legion is still willing to rent hall space, they can鈥檛 offer food services, nor guarantee the building will even be standing within a few months.
Whitehead said without an injection of cash, or a large influx of new volunteers dedicated to saving the hall, the meeting on the 14th may be little more than a formality.
鈥淲e just have no choice. We would like to stay here, so the 14th is a very special general meeting,鈥� he said.
Whitehead is not anticipating a last ditch effort to maintain the hall, and expects when the property sells, it is likely the building will be demolished, the location valued more highly than it is in its current condition.
But the Alexander Ross branch will not disappear with the hall. Whitehead said they will be looking for space in another building in the city, to host meetings, run the Legion鈥檚 Remembrance Day Poppy Campaign etc.
