Our History
(Updates are pending)
The History of the Royal Canadian Legion
The Great War Veterans Association of Canada, founded in 1917 by Lillian Freiman, was the first national organization for veterans. At the end of World War 1, there were a total of 15 Veterans groups and several regimental associations representing former service members in Canada. Despite their common goal – to help returned servicemen in need – their efforts were fragmented and largely unsuccessful. By 1919 the GWVA was the largest veterans’ organization in Canada.
Early in 1925, an appeal for unity led to the formation of the Dominion Veterans Alliance. In November 1925, the Canadian Legion was founded in Winnipeg, Manitoba, as the Canadian Legion of the British Empire Services League. It was incorporated by special Act of Parliament, Charter issued in July 1926 and the British Empire Services League was incorporated by the same act. The Legion grew steadily through the 1930s and then expanded rapidly following World War II.
In 1960, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II granted The Canadian Legion royal patronage, and it became The Royal Canadian Legion.
The History of Windermere District #71
First charter was granted on July 22, 1919
Great War Veterans Association of Canada
Windermere Branch
First President, Harold Richardson and First Secretary, Cecil H Davidson
Second charter, December 1, 1926
Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service
League
Windermere District (British Columbia No 71) Branch
Charter Members
The Charter Members of the
Canadian Legion in Invermere.
William Pennington, Frank Richardson, Arthur Ashworth, Percy Docking, Arthur
Powell, Thomas Turner, Gordon Palmer, William Seaton, Ernest Brydon, Frederic Young, Edwin
Ede, Thomas Weir, Lewis Bell, John Powels, Ernest Ede, and Arthur Walke.
On December 19, 1960, HRM Queen Elizabeth II gave her consent to use the prefix 'Royal', and the organization became known as 'The Royal Canadian Legion." The Act of Incorporation was later amended in 1961 to make the change official and the new name became,
The Royal Canadian Legion
Windermere District #71
Past Presidents
1919 F Richardson
1929 AA Ashworth
1930 1931 FF Coy
1932 JC Powles
1944 TN Weir
1945 1946 A Gordon
1947 1948 OF Young
1949 ME Tunnacliffe
1950 TN Weir
1951 G Palmason
1952 1953 EJ Zinkan
1954 1955 JT Frater
1956 1957 JG Lake
1958 1961 J Pietrosky
1962 1963 R Bradshaw
1964 1965 WW Carlow
1966 OF Young
1967 B McConachie
1968 J Ladyka
1969 1970 GM Cartwright
1971 1972 AW Knight
1973 OF Young
1974 1975 C Cowles
1976 1977 RP Burke
1978 K Stanway
1979 1980 R Neratko
1981 1983 J Pietrosky
1984 1985 J Denby
1986 AW Knight
1987 1988 P Cope
1989 1990 L Bittorf
1991 E Godlien
1992 AW Knight
1993 1994 R Collier
1995 E Godlien
1996 1997 R Dominy
1998 R Hughes
1999 2000 J Taylor
2001 K Williams / M Hughes
2002 K Sky
2003 L Meadows
2004 2005 J Meadows
2006 2008 P Cope
2009 2011 R Jarrett
2012 R Cope
2013 2016 K Carlow
2017 2018 S Macneil
2018 T Gaul
2018 2025 MJA Hoofd
Locations
The first clubhouse was built by the GWVA, a log cabin very near to where the Windermere Valley Museum is located on a point between 6th and 7th avenues. In 1945 the former Columbia Valley Supply store was purchased and moved from Athalmer to the location of the log cabin clubhouse, and the it in turn to the edge of Pothole Park, where AG Foods is now located and served as the museum. In 1955 the original log cabin clubhouse was transfered to the school district and served as an extra classroom. The new Legion clubhouse was also built in 1955 at it's present location on 13th street.
A first addition was built in 1972 including a kitchen, larger washrooms, and an office. A second addition, the Veterans Hall was added in medio1988.
The Patio in front of the Legion was constructed in 2022 and saw the first guests in 2023.
The original Clubhouse
The Columbia Valley Supply Company store and the move up the hill from Athalmer to Invermere
The Windermere District Historical Society purchased the original Legion clubhouse from the School Board for $1.00 around 1970. The building is now located within the confines of the Windermere Valley Musem.
The Ladies Auxiliary
The Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Great War Veterans Association originated after the First World War when women were asked to help wounded Veterans returning home, and to provide support for their families. When Canadian Legion was established in 1926, these women became a welcomed addition to Legion Branches as they continued the tradition of volunteering to support ex-service personnel, and to enrich the programs and activities of the Branch.
Members of the Ladies’ Auxiliary support the aims and objects of The Royal Canadian Legion and today, they are a vital and integral part of the work of the Legion. Major contributors to the day-to-day life of Legion Branches, Ladies’ Auxiliaries provide financial and volunteer support to Legion programs.
The Windermere District 71 Ladies Auxillery first came together in February 1954. On March 6, 1956 their charter was granted and they became a Ladies Auxillery of the Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service League, Windermere District (British Columbia No 71) Branch.
It is with grateful thanks to those ladies in the LA that our Legion was able to feed and entertain so many in our community!
On April 28, 2015 with the changes and evolution within the Legion at Dominion and Local levels, the Windermere District #71 Ladies Auxillery returned their Charter to the Dominion Command of the Royal Canadian Legion.
Past Presidents Ladies Auxillery
1956 1957 Madge Young
1958 1959 Jane Lindholm
1960 1962 Elsie Lake
1963 Madge Young
1964 1965 Jane Lindholm
1966 1967 Lilian Gee
1968 1969 Edna Godlien
1970 1971 Gladys Bradshaw
1972 1973 Eva Kobza
1974 1975 Nelle Martin
1076 1977 Elsie Lake
1978 1979 Myrtle Wilder
1980 1981 Anita Frater
1982 1984 Edna Godlien
1985 1987 Sybil Knight
1988 Edna Godlien
1989 Phyllis Gibb
1990 Sylvia Banham
1991 1992 Marj Wood
1993 1994 Lee Hickson
1995 1996 Joyce Rumble
1997 1998 Debbie Waterer
1999 Joan Gross
2000 Edna Godlien
2001 Annette Lefrevre
2002 Lee Hickson
2003 Edna Godlien
2004 Tammie Dendy
2005 2007 Faye Almas
2008 Norma Hastewell
2009 Sylvia Walker
2010 2011 Faye Almas
2012 2015 Krys Borek