ROB MURRAY: I’m speaking with Hugh Pettigrew. I understand the Banff Legion has been pretty hard hit by COVID-19 and everything that’s been going on.

HUGH PETTIGREW: I think all the Legions in Canada were struggling even before COVID. At our branch, we have a good team. We have some amazing volunteers as well as some members and our executive working really hard, but it’s been tough through COVID. Our numbers went down like everybody else, and it shows.

RM: I understand you’re doing a big fundraising raffle to help raise some cash. What are the details on this?

HP: It’s an online raffle. Our maximum is $20,000 and the winner gets half. Currently it’s at $9,500 so let’s get it to $20,000.

RM: How can people find the link to donate? And what’s the donation deadline?

HP: The deadline is October 20th. We’re going to have a draw party on a 24th at the Legion. You don’t have to be there to attend, but you’ll miss out on a good party.  You can get the link here.

RM: What is going on with the Legion right now? Are you open? Are you doing special events?

HP: The Legion has been a staple of the community for our veterans, but we have become more of a social hub in many activities like bingo, poker nights, pool tournaments and social events throughout the year. Bingo is on hold right now, we were looking at or reopening plans but we’re still not sure how we’re going to manage that. We do keep our meat draws every Saturday and we have live music. It’s an awesome place to be on Saturday afternoon. We’re opening Thursdays, Fridays. Saturdays and Sundays currently.

RM: Do you have any plans for how you’re going to do Remembrance Day this year?

HP: A lot of things have changed. From Command and other organizations we’ve been directed to not have a parade this year. We’re going to have some low key ceremonies for the first time in our history. I think it’ll be a live presentation on Facebook. We’re asking people to not attend the Legion for the celebration this year, it will be a closed ceremony with limited people attending. The wreaths will be pre-laid this year.

RM: Will there still be poppy sales this year?

HP: Yeah, we were struggling with how we were going to distribute the poppies this year with COVID restrictions, but now that’s being cleared up and we’re back to what I’d call a normal poppy trade distribution year. We’re looking forward to organizing all this in the next couple of weeks so we can start populating the stores and people can support the poppy program.

RM: Hugh, thanks for joining me on the show and giving us the update.

HP: I really appreciate the support and the Legion need it. We support a lot of community groups through the year. It’s our turn now to ask the community to help us, and we appreciate it.

Filed under: Banff, remembrance day