Lounge/Bar reconstruction --As previously announced, your Branch has been very fortunate to be awarded government grants for capital projects to assist with recovery from mandated closures and to improve accessibility within the building. The federal government's grant to improve accessibility has allowed the Branch to replace the old bar with a brand new wheelchair-accessible bar as depicted in the renderings below.

Demolition began Monday, Aug. 22 and we hope the project will be completed soon.

Sunrise Construction, a local design/build company, was awarded the contract. Their designer, Michelle Yates, created concepts/renderings in conjunction with the Branch's bar team. Space allowance for bar stools requires that the area along the railing be clear of things that are there now. Optionally, the bar stools will be placed at the railing and moved up to the bar as needed. The new bar and the cleanup of the area between the bar and the railing complement the new bright, clean, welcoming vista created by the new flat-panel LED lighting in the lounge and the games area (made possible by another federal government grant awarded on the basis of creating the new welcoming vista, important along with other grant expenditures to allow the Branch to encourage members and the general public to return to the virus-safe building and enjoy all that the Legion has to offer).

Please continue to enjoy your Branch.  Your patience during the construction period will be sincerely appreciated.

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Branch 60 was proud to host members of the 2022 Ruck to Remember campaign on July 31. The 900km ruck march along the Bruce Trail from Tobermory to Niagara-on-the-Lake is in support of a Legion program called "Operation Leave the Streets Behind" which aims to get and keep veterans off the streets. We served them dinner and breakfast and provided overnight accomodation. Plus, we presented them with a cheque for $10,000. Pictured below are Ruck team members along with President Murray Sutherland (far right) and Vice Presidents John Mattocks (far left) and Dan Lauzon (lower left). More information on the Ruck is available HERE.

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Four members of Branch 60 have received the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Community Hero Award for their service to the community in various ways. President Murray Sutherland, 1st Vice President Dan Lauzon, City Liaison Officer and Museum Curator Bob Ankrett and Second World War Veteran Gordon Schottlander received certificates and commemorative pins on July 21st. The full story is available HERE.

(L to R: Bob Ankrett, Murray Sutherland, MP Karina Gould, Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, Gordon Schottlander, Dan Lauzon)

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Burlington Veteran Douglas Ross Rickard marks 104th Birthday in style

JUNE 25, 2022 - Royal Canadian Legion Branch 60 Burlington wishes a very Happy Birthday today (June 25) to one of its valued members, 104-year old Douglas Ross Rickard. His wife, Jean, celebrates her 100th birthday on July 11. Plus, the Rickard's celebrated their 78 th wedding anniversary yesterday (June 24th ).

These three special dates were recognized recently during a special ceremony at Branch 60 which included the Rickards' daughter Marie, remarks by Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and a surprise performance by Frank Sinatra tribute artist Dan Lauzon, a Canadian military veteran and a Vice President of Branch 60.

Douglas Ross Rickard is one of very few living Canadian survivors of the Dieppe Raid during the Second World War. It was one of the darkest chapters in Canada's military history but it was also marked by great courage and helped lead to important lessons being learned to prepare for the D-Day invasion of 1944.

Mr. Rickard was a member of the Royal Canadian Corp of Signals. He arrived at Dieppe in the early morning of August 19 th , 1942 aboard a tank landing craft (TLC) containing three tanks. He was knocked unconscious by a shell blast but was revived by an officer and continued to receive and transmit messages until further damage to the vessel disabled an engine and forced the crew to retreat. With only one propeller working, they slowly tried to return to Britain. They were set upon by enemy fighters off the coast of England, and to avoid injury Corporal Rickard jumped overboard. He was able to remove his heavy boots and swam over a kilometer back to an English beach and safety.

Corporal Rickard continued to serve the remainder of the war in a variety of roles, returning to Canada in early 1946 with his British war bride, Jean. Already an accomplished artist, he continued his painting and held art director positions with several major publications. Before retirement, he established several Canadian companies which exported Canadian photographic equipment and art supplies around the world.

The almost 5,000 Canadians who fought in the Dieppe Raid were among the more than one million men and women from our country who served in uniform during the Second World War. The efforts of all of these brave Canadians helped the Allies eventually achieve victory.

A YouTube video of the recent Legion ceremony is available at https://youtu.be/6gN6r732IBA . Plus, a YouTube video of Mr. Rickard recalling his experience at Dieppe is available at https://youtu.be/dp-3_jDXUF4 .

(From L to R: Jean Rickard, Doug Rickard, Mayor Marianne Meed Ward.)

Happy Birthday, Doug, and THANK YOU again for your service!

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Thank you to the Southern Cruisers Riding Club for their generous donation to the Branch on Friday, June 17. Your support of our Veterans is much appreciated!

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Tammy's Line Dancing on Tuesdays & Thursdays

For more info, contact Tammy at (905) 691-5959.

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Thank you, Trillium!

The Ontario Government's Trillium Foundation granted the Burlington Legion $147,000 for capital improvements: the new membrane roof and replacement of four old, repair-prone refrigeration machines.

View the media release HERE.  

https://www.otf.ca/

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NEW!!! Debit & Credit Card Payment is now available in the Lounge! However, CASH ONLY for Thursday Karaoke Dinners (when they resume) and Friday Fish & Chips.

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IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE