2026 CENTENARY PARTY

What a Day to Remember!

Yesterday, Branch 256 proudly celebrated the 100th Anniversary of The Royal Canadian Legion, and what a celebration it was!

More than 200 members, guests and friends joined us for an afternoon that exceeded every expectation. What was planned as a four-hour celebration quickly became five, as the dance floor remained full and Doctors of Rock & Roll kept the music going well into the evening.

A Proud Beginning

We were honoured to begin the day with the stirring sounds of the Pacific Gael Pipe Band, led by Pipe Major William Alderson, whose performance set the perfect tone for this historic occasion.

We were also deeply honoured to receive special recognition from both the Province of British Columbia and the Parliament of Canada. MLA George Anderson presented Branch 256 with recognition from the Province, while MP Tamara Kronis, herself a proud Branch 256 member, presented recognition on behalf of the Parliament of Canada.

It Takes a Community

Events of this size are never accomplished by one person. They are built by a community of volunteers who quietly give their time, energy and talent.

A very special thank you goes to our Crew Chief, Robin Allen, and his entire crew, along with Grounds Chair Bob Sears and his volunteers. They arrived before 7:00 a.m. to begin setting up and were still working after 7:00 p.m. to return everything to normal. Their dedication made the entire day possible.

Thank you to Lorraine Cosmacini and her bar team, who kept everyone refreshed throughout the afternoon.

To Laurie Grubb and her incredible volunteer team—thank you for doing whatever needed doing, often before anyone even asked.

To Wendy Forth and her kitchen team, thank you for keeping everyone well fed and happy.

A special thank you to our BBQ crew—Stan, Gord and the rest of the team—along with Pam, Kim, Marilyn, Jean and many others who served hundreds of meals with smiles all afternoon.

Thank you to Jane Holmgren and Marcie Bertrand, our purveyors of Legion regalia.

Thank you as well to our Meat Draw volunteers—Nancy, Heather, John and Leslie—who looked after more than 60 members enjoying the festivities in the Lounge.

Community Support

Our heartfelt thanks go to our community partners:

Vancouver Island Symphony
Westwood Lake Resort, for providing tents and equipment
The many Branch 256 members who brought additional shade canopies to keep everyone comfortable
Stan Wood, for providing fencing and traffic cones to help keep our venue safe and secure
Leah from BC Lottery Corporation, who shared smiles throughout the afternoon with the Act of Kindness giveaway

Your generosity and support helped make this celebration truly memorable.

Thank You to Our Executive

Every member of the Branch 256 Executive also serves as a volunteer, and events like this simply could not happen without their countless hours of dedication behind the scenes.

George Molnar – President
Teri Smith – 1st Vice President
Lew Forth – 2nd Vice President
Laurie Grubb – Past President
Jane Holmgren – Secretary
Wayne Stuart – Treasurer
John Little – Recording Secretary
Betty-Anne Allen – Membership Chair
Robin Allen – Gaming Chair
Bob Sears – House & Grounds Chair
Jo-Ann Walton – Veteran Service Officer
Anne Marie Smith – Veteran Liaison Officer
Kim Rogers – PR & Media
Bob Wilson – Safety Officer
Harvey Thien – Honorary President
Padre Deb Hinksman (who may very well have had a hand in improving the weather!)

Thank You

To every volunteer, every musician, every community partner, every member and every guest who joined us yesterday…

Thank you for helping us celebrate a remarkable milestone in the history of Branch 256.

Together, we honoured our past, celebrated our present, and demonstrated what makes our Legion so special—people helping people.

Here’s to the first 100 years… and to the next century of service, remembrance, friendship and community.