Poppy Campaign Volunteers Needed
October 25 - November 11

The 2024 Poppy Campaign runs from Friday, Oct. 25 until Monday, Nov. 11.  It's very much a local initiative conducted by Legion Branches across the country.  Donations collected during the Poppy Campaign are held in Trust at the branch level to directly support Veterans and their families and to help ensure Canadians "never forget".
In the days leading up to Remembrance Day, Poppies can be seen in every corner of this great country.  This show of support and display of remembrance would not be possible without the efforts of thousands of Legionnaires who volunteer to distribute Poppies to the community through schools, community organizations and local businesses.  We are so grateful for their efforts and for the support of the many partners, local and national, who welcome Legion volunteers and Poppy boxes into their  locations.

If you can help with the campaign by dropping off/collecting boxes or offering Poppies at various locations, please contact:

• Gerry Bardy 905-536-9415

• Barry Moore 905-330-3259

• Owen Durkin 289-775-8809.

Your help is much appreciated.

Veteran Gordon Schottlander named Senior of the Year

Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward has honoured Second World War Veteran Gordon Schottlander with a special award.  See the BurlingtonToday.com story HERE.

Branch 60 at Provincial Dart Tournament

Branch 60 Washer Toss champ

Branch 60 prominent at Canada Netherlands Friendship Day

Several Legion representatives, most of them Veterans, were on hand as the City of Burlington celebrated the 27th anniversary of Canada Netherlands Friendship Day and the 19th anniversary of the City’s twinning agreement with the city of Apeldoorn.  The event took place on Saturday, May 11 at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre.

As part of the ceremony, the family of the late John Kenneth Davy, a Veteran who passed away in March in his 98th year, presented the city with an oil painting by their father.

 Mr. Davy served in the Canadian Navy during World War Two and was an artist, filmmaker, author and historian.  The painting is titled “Remembering” and features two Veterans adoring the Canadian Naval Memorial in Spencer Smith Park.  The list of attendees included Veterans Capt. Gordon Schottlander – D-Day Veteran; Retired, Sgt. Daniel Lauzon – Canadian Forces, Retired; Sgt. Robert Graham – Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers, Retired; Sgt. Manual Alfoe, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers, Retired; Warrant Officer James Farrauto – Royal Canadian Navy, Retired; Burns MacLeod, Royal Canadian Air Force.   Also attending on behalf of Branch 60 was Bob Ankrett, City Liaison and Museum Curator. 

Welcome your new Executive for 2024-2025

Congratulations to the following members who were elected or re-elected to serve on the Branch 60 Executive for the coming year at the April 30th General Meeting.

President - Murray Sutherland

1st Vice President - Dave Smith

2nd Vice President - Barry Moore

3rd Vice President - Melanie Pepper

Directors:

Bob Ankrett

Sharon Arnott

Dave Browning

Ken Bruce

Trevor Butcher

Frank Chiarelli

Dave Ellis

Linda Flear

Shirley Heathfield

Ron Holmes

Helen Horoky

Ken Lawrence

Thank you all for stepping up to serve!

St. Patrick's Day Party a hit!

Thanks to all who came out to our St. Patrick's Day bash.  Check out the amazing coverage courtesy of BurlingtonToday.com .

THANK YOU Southern Cruisers Riding Club !!!

Burlington Chapter 57 of the Southern Cruisers Riding Club made a considerable donation to our Branch on Feb. 23rd.  Officials presented a cheque in the amount of $5,000 to 2nd VP & Poppy Chair Barry Moore and Sergeant-at-Arms Ken Bruce.  See photo below.  Plus, watch a short video of the presentation HERE.  (Photo and video courtesy of Ron Simpson.)

Sunday Social Dance presents cheque to Branch

On Sunday, Feb. 4 the Sunday Social Dance group presented a cheque to the Branch in the amount of $1365 from their End of Year Dance in December.  Below, Ladies Auxiliary President Linda Flear and Branch President Murray Sutherland accepts the cheque from Garrick Saunders, one of the organizers of the End of Year Dance.  For more information on the dance, click HERE. 

Our Volunteers are the BEST!!!

Certificates of Appreciation were also presented to five members in recognition of their various volunteer efforts to keep the Branch alive and thriving.  Thank You and Congratulations to Wilf Brown, Gary Cox, Frank Chiarelli, Don McDade and Dow Clowater all pictured (in order) below! 

Youth Education Winners

Branch 60 is proud to present several Burlington students with medals and cash awards for their part in our annual literary and poster contest in honour of Remembrance Day 2023.

Below, Youth & Education Chair Debbie Lauzon presents students from Trinity Christian School with their awards for their poster and poem presentation.

Debbie also presented awards to students at M.M. Robinson High School for their winning poster.

And Debbie congratulated the winners at Makwendam Public School.

Thank you to all those who joined us for our 2023 Remembrance Day Ceremony either in person at Veteran Square or virtually online.  A video of the ceremony is available HERE.

Plus, check out some of the media coverage we received from BurlingtonToday.com.

Remembrance Day procession & service

Burlington Remembers Photo Essage

Burl-Oak Naval Vets Sunrise Service

Veterans Share what Remembrance Day means to them

Burlington Legion Museum

Also, check out CHCH-TV's live shot on Nov. 10th as the Cadets began their overnight vigil guarding the Cenotaph.  Click HERE.

Remembrance Day also saw the presentation of the King Charles Coronation Award to 21 veterans including several Branch 60 members.  See the story HERE.

2023 Poppy Campaign

Thank you to all of our amazing members, volunteers and Cadets who distributed Poppies during the 2023 campaign.  While the Poppy is distributed freely to all who wish to wear one, the Legion gratefully accepts donations to the Poppy Fund.  The Poppy is Canada's symbol of Remembrance.  Click HERE to learn more about Branch 60's Poppy Campaign.

Here in Burlington, Branch 60 Poppy Chair Barry Moore pinned the first Poppy of the 2023 campaign on Mayor Marianne Meed Ward in front of the Cenotaph at Veteran Square.  Plus, our Honour Our Veterans Banner Program is in place as the City of Burlington installed the banners along Brant Street on Friday, Oct. 27.  The banners will be on display through mid-November.

Mayor proclaims LEGION WEEK

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward officially proclaimed Sept. 17 to 23 as Legion Week in Burlington to coincide with the national observance. She took part in a flag raising ceremony at City Hall on Friday, Sept. 14 and was joined by President Murray Sutherland, Past President Burns Macleod, City Liaison/Museum Curator Bob Ankrett, 1st VP & PRO Terry Scott and Ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna.  

Also, check out the story and photos at BurlingtonToday.com.

For more information on Legion Week, visit https://www.legion.ca/news/articles/2023/09/14/the-royal-canadian-legion-announces-national-legion-week 

Poppy Fund cheques to Jo Brant and Juravinski

Branch 60 was proud to present cheques from the Poppy Fund to Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation and Juravinski Hospital & Cancer Centre in 2023.  

Burlington Central School Memorial Service

Branch 60 was honoured to assist with the memorial event as part of Burlington Central School's 100th Anniversary celebrations on Sunday, June 4, 2023.  As part of the morning service at Veteran Square, current students or family members held up portraits and read tributes to 21 former BCS students who died in service or in training during the Second World War.   See the photos below, plus see more at BurlingtonToday.com .

Remembering Veteran Paul Watley

Branch 60 was saddened to learn of the passing of Veteran Paul Watley in his 103rd year on Dec. 17, 2023.  Paul's life read like an adventure novel.  See his obituary HERE.   Plus, see a wonderful tribute written by our Bob Ankrett upon Paul's 100th birthday HERE.

Remembering Douglas Ross Rickard

Friends, family and dignitaries gathered at Branch 60 on Sunday, June 4, 2023 to celebrate the life of Douglas Ross Rickard, our Dieppe Veteran who passed away in February in his 105th year.  (More info on his life below.)

Burlington and Apeldoorn remain best of friends

Several members of Branch 60 were delighted to participate in Canada Netherlands Friendship Day on Saturday, May 13, 2023.  It marked the 18th anniversary of the City of Burlington’s twinning agreement with the city of Apeldoorn and recognized the 78th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands by Canadian Armed Forces during the Second World War.   Enjoy these photos from BurlingtonToday.com .

Remembering Jackie Ralston 1949-2023

It was with a heavy heart that we announced the passing on Sunday, April 30, 2023 of Life Member Jaqueline "Jackie" Ralston.  She passed away following a brief illness in her 74th year. 

Jackie was part of the fabric of Branch 60 for almost 50 years.  She joined the Legion in 1976 and went on to serve in numerous capacities including 1st, 2nd and 3rd Vice President, Youth Education Chair, Zone Youth Education Chair, District Bursary Chair, Zone Deputy, Zone Commander and as President of the Branch 60 Ladies Auxiliary from 1989-1994.  She also served as the Branch Army Liaison Officer and was in charge of the Charity Bingo program for many years. During the annual Poppy Campaign, Jackie helped organize the Cadets to canvass, delivered counter boxes and helped count the funds as they poured in.
Jackie was the "go to person" as she was a wealth of knowledge on anything Legion related.
As a trained chef and willing volunteer, she cooked and organized countless dinners and social events on behalf of the Branch.  Her efforts provided funds for the Branch and contributed to the goodwill of our members and a close relationship with the citizens of Burlington who frequent our Branch for meals and entertainment.

Jackie joined the Ladies Auxiliary and served as Secretary, President and Treasurer.  She has served as Zone B6 Commander of the Ladies Auxiliary and worked tirelessly to promote a successful partnership between the Branch and the LA.  Most recently, she has served as Secretary of Branch 60.

Among her many Honours and Awards, she received a Life Membership in 2010.

President Murray Sutherland said "The passing of Jackie Ralston is a great loss to not only Burlington Branch 60, but to the entire Legion community. In my first year as President, it was Jackie who provided guidance on Legion protocol, which allowed me to function effectively as a first year President. Her knowledge of all the Legion was invaluable. Her tireless effort and knowledge will be greatly missed by Branch 60 and me personally. I express my personal condolences to her husband Bill and family."
A Celebration of Life and Legion Service was held at Branch 60 on Saturday, June 10, 2023.  Photos can be seen HERE.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Royal Canadian Legion Ontario Command Bursary Fund.

Honouring Comrade Burns MacLeod

Thank you to all who joined us in the Lounge on Friday, May 5, 2023 to honour Past President and long time Poppy Campaign Chair Burns MacLeod for his service to the Branch.  Veterans Liaison Officer Dan Lauzon presented Burns with a plaque (veteran to veteran) and Burns delivered eloquent thank you remarks.   You can see video of the presentation HERE starting with 1st VP Terry Scott.  (Thank you to Comrade Ron Simpson for the photo and video.) 

Branch 60 was pleased to present our three Burlington area Cadet Corps with cheques in April 2023.  The Cadets are an instrumental part of the annual Poppy Campaign and the Legion is proud to support them as Cadet Corps provide challenging military, adventurous and community activities and aim to inspire young people to achieve success in life and to develop in them the qualities of a good citizen. 

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 60 Burlington was deeply saddened by the passing of one of its valued members, Douglas Ross Rickard, who died peacefully at home the morning of February 22, 2023 in his 105th year.  His wife, Jean, was at his side.  The Rickards celebrated their 78th wedding anniversary last June, just days before Jean turned 100.

Mr. Rickard was among the last Canadian survivors of the Dieppe Raid during the Second World War.  It was one of the darkest chapter’s in Canada’s military history but it was also marked by great courage and helped lead to important lessons to prepare for the D-Day invasion of 1944.

Douglas Ross Rickard was a member of the Royal Canadian Corp of Signals.  He arrived at Dieppe in the early morning of August 19th, 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 including Maclean’s magazine.  Before retirement, he established several Canadian companies which exported Canadian photographic equipment and art supplies around the world.

In recognition of his service, Corporal Rickard was awarded the 1939 to 1945 Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 with Dieppe Bar and, in 2021, received the French Legion of Honour Medal. 

Corporal Douglas Ross Rickard proudly displays the French Legion of Honour Medal presented to him in 2021 by Col. Roger Vandomme, Deputy Defence Attache with the French Embassy in Canada. 

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 video of the celebration of Corporal Rickard’s 104th birthday on June 25, 2022 is available HERE.  A video of Corporal Rickard recalling his experience at Dieppe is available HERE.  Plus, a video of Corporal Rickard being presented with the French Legion of Honour Medal is available HERE.