ATHABASCA — After two years of brief outdoor Remembrance Day ceremonies in response to the pandemic, the Royal Canadian Legion Athabasca #103 will once again be hosting a full in-person event at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex Nov. 11.
Legion president Jacqueline Jonk said in an Oct. 26 interview that events at the hall are also back up and running, as well as rentals, so the group is looking forward to a larger service which will include the local Air Cadets.
“It is uncertain what it'll be like, but we hope to see a larger crowd,” she said. “We have done the Remembrance Day service outside for the last couple of years at our Legion.”
There will also be representatives from 1 C.E.R., 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, at CFB Edmonton.
“Troops are being deployed, so how many they send will be probably less than what they usually send,” Jonk said.
Lyle Lewis will be doing the service and Herb Radke will play "The Last Post."
“We invite those in attendance to come down for the traditional lunch,” she said. “We're asking our members, as always, to bring a loaf of sandwiches or some squares and we will be preparing some ourselves and everybody is invited back to the branch, as usual, for lunch.”
The ceremony will take place in the Fieldhouse at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex, starting at 9:30 a.m. sharp.
“We will be laying in excess of 60 wreaths.” she said. “We will have representatives from our town and from the province and we always have one of the troop members come up and speak as well so, there will be some words before we start wreath laying.”
And if the wreaths aren’t all laid by 11 a.m. the service will pause for The Last Post and two minutes of silence before continuing.
“When that is done, we ask a few willing, able bodies to help us fold up the chairs and clean the auditorium and then join us down for lunch,” said Jonk.
Everyone is also invited to take part in Thursday night crib at the branch, Pubstumpers Trivia on Friday evenings, and Saturday meat draws and Beat the Deck.
“Saturday (Oct. 29) we're having live music for the first time in forever,” she said. “Ramshackle Fancy and Moose Mountain Boys by donation at the door. So, we're looking forward to that.”
The group posts on social media and encourages everyone to follow them for up-to-date information.
“Stay posted on our Facebook page, like our page, stay tuned, check and see what's happening,” said Jonk. “We're just slowly starting the ball rolling again. The Legion’s open for rentals and it is being rented for parties and anniversaries and reunions and stuff like that.”
The Boyle Legion #169 will be holding their service Friday in front of the Legion, starting at 10:30 a.m.
The Calling Lake Historical Committee will also be opening up the Historical Information Centre on Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for "a moment of acknowledgement and history sharing."
