Legions can now apply for funding from the province.
The Ontario government announced Wednesday, (Aug. 6) its Trillium Foundation has a new, one-time $83 million Resilient Communities Fund.
The Province says grants of up to $150,000 are now available for not-for-profit organizations.
Even now that Ontario is in Stage Three of reopening, most legions have missed out on their major fundraising events which provide the bulk of the funds needed to cover expenses.
Some legions have opened with patios or limited hours, but many events that would normally be held are not happening.
District C Commander Eric Ross says in the spring, the Royal Canadian Legion's Dominion Command allocated $3 million to help branches that are struggling.
Ross says the first $1.5 million was distributed evenly, and now they're into a another round by application, “The second unit of funding is now available but the branches needed to apply if they were in dire need.”
Ross says in the Grey Bruce area, four legions applied for the second round of funding. (This is a correction of a previously stated 42 of 50. 42 of 50 responded in an 'application' but only a total of seven in District C said they needed funding in their application).
“Basically all their sources of revenue were lost,” says Ross, “In the event the branch had internal sports programs, that ended. Any fundraising events, any hall rentals, that has all stopped for them,” says Ross.
He notes, membership is dwindling but says it is not membership alone that can save legions, nor is it opening bar or food service, “Membership dues do not keep a branch open. It takes the effort of fundraising. The support of a bar does not maintain the branch operations either anymore.”
He adds, “We have big concerns over membership renewal this fall when the average member has not had access to the building or to the sports programs, whatever reason they might have joined.”
Ross says legions tend to have a lot of older members, and says there is a reluctance among some to attend halls or events because they feel more at risk during the pandemic,”We're not seeing many of the seniors coming out to the branch. They're still afraid to be attending. With the larger population of our membership that do fall into that category it's going to be a struggle for the branches to move forward.”
Meanwhile, he notes anyone can visit a legion, those over 18 years old can join, and anyone can donate by calling the legion of their choice, making a donation in a branch when it's open, emailing the branch, or putting a cheque in the mail.
Ross hopes legions will also apply for funding for PPE, pointing out there are funding streams like Bruce County's Business Safety Supplies Grant, which can be used to purchase Personal Protective Equipment, to help them if they plan to reopen. He says special circumstances due to COVID-19 have allowed branches to use $500 from the Poppy Fund to buy hand sanitizer and PPE in order to open.
Ross adds branches would be more than happy to accept PPE donations including plexiglass.
Meanwhile, Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP Alex Ruff, who has been a member of the Tara Legion for 27 years, points out legions have a wide array of programs they offer for all ages, “Legions do a lot of work for seniors, Meals on Wheels, etc, a lot for the local cadet organizations, public schools, there are a lot of grants and small things that they do,” says Ruff noting the legion holds poster contests for students, essay competitions, and is a big supporter of track and field.
While Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker's office says legions can apply for some of this provincial funding, Nujma Bond, Manager of Communications at the Legion's National Headquarters says, they have also been waiting to hear if there will be federal funding, “We are hoping for some sort of helpful financial intervention from the government,” says Bond, adding the Legion was in late July, “Optimistic to hear from Veterans Affairs Canada that in fact something is in the works and a type of an aid package is being discussed and planned.”
It was recently reported in national media over 150 of the country's 1,381 face closure.