The Estevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion named a new president in addition to the election of officers and executives at its Dec. 1 Past President鈥檚 Dinner.聽
Lyle Dukart was named the new president of the Estevan branch. In his acceptance speech, he acknowledged the branch is about to see 鈥渁 fine group of people coming on,鈥� and added he is looking forward to working with the executive.
鈥淔irst of all I鈥檇 like to bring back the partnership and harmony within this group,鈥� said Dukart. 鈥淭his group will work together, and we will accomplish that.鈥�
In his speech after dinner, Dukart described some of his immediate upcoming plans, including the construction of a bar for Legion events in what is now the janitor鈥檚 room, to allow ease of access when both halls are in use, and plans to change the times of meetings to 7:30 p.m. to better accommodate the work schedules of members.
Dukart encouraged everyone to attend the general meetings, adding that the branch has a big year ahead of it in 2017.
鈥淲e need to have volunteers to help out with the provincial convention and we need suggestions and advice from everyone else,鈥� said Dukart. 鈥淲e want to make it the best convention it can be. We have an excellent hall to set up for it, so we can all work together the next year. I would like to put an invitation out to anyone who wants to come out and talk about it to any of our executives. We need your input and suggestions.鈥�
聽Past president Troy LeBlanc was thankful to all his fellow members, looking back on his service as president, in his final speech before becoming a former president that night.
鈥淚 want to thank you, one and all, for everything during my term as president. It has not always been good times, but it has been a great experience,鈥� said LeBlanc. 鈥淚 thank everyone for all that experience. I look forward to working with the new executive, and seeing the branch continue to grow.鈥�
LeBlanc emphasized that the next two years for the Legion will be busy, as it will be hosting the provincial convention, as well as the Legion鈥檚 Eight Ball provincial tournament.
鈥淭hese are some major events for the branch. Thank you, again, comrades. We鈥檙e going to need a lot of volunteers in the next few years, and the support of the incoming executive, to make this work. The year has been very active around the branch, as you might have known,鈥� said LeBlanc. 鈥淏etween comrade Lyle (Dukart) and myself, we鈥檝e been working to get the (Royal Heights Veteran Memorial Park) up and running, hopefully next year. The names have been put into the engravers and the park will be dedicated in the spring.聽
鈥淭his is one of many projects we鈥檝e undertaken in the last five years. A lot of things have been going on. Thank you, one and all for the experience.鈥�
After dinner, the Legion also welcomed a new member into its fold, granting membership to Dianne Allen, who took the membership oath.
The officers elected for the Estevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion include first vice president Jim 鈥淔rosty鈥� Forrest, second vice president Danielle Evenson, Sergeant-at-arms Cort Barker, assistant sergeant at arms Willie Forrest, secretary Bernice Forrest and treasurer Leonard Grube.
Those elected for a one-year term in the executive include Edmund Schell, Dean Erickson, Colleen Jensen, Chad Laviolette, Corrine Laviolette and Connie St. Onge.
Those elected with two year terms in the executive include Betty Albertson, Wayne Evenson, George Kingdon, Tyson Wilhelm, Angela Clements and Lorraine Pho.
