A national initiative is providing Wallaceburg’s Legion branch an opportunity to show its current and future potential to the community.
As part of National Legion Week, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 18 is hosting an open house on Saturday, followed by a barbecue and live music. The public is invited to stop in between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to see the current progress of the Legion’s revitalization campaign, which will transform the second floor into the Steve Bilodeau Event Center.
“Upstairs, we’ve constructed a new bar and completely overhauled the kitchen. It’s exciting for us to see some work finally being done for the effort,” said Sue Baert, the fundraising chair for the campaign.
The overhaul of the Margaret Avenue facility will also include an expanded riverside patio and a redesigned dining room. The renovations are expected to be complete in time for the Legion’s 100th anniversary in 2026.
“This renovation is what’s going to take the Legion into the future. It supports the current veterans and any future veterans,” said Baert. “We would like to salute them every year through Legion Week, but [this year], it’s kind of a bridge taking us into our 100th anniversary, so that people can see what we have the potential to be.”
National Legion Week, from September 21 to 27, aims to educate the public on the good work each branch does to serve and support veterans, as well as contribute to the well-being of local communities.
