The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 171 has stood as a beacon of support, camaraderie and service in Ladysmith for 80 years. Founded by veterans in 1943, the legion has played a vital role in the community, evolving from a meeting place to a hub of support for local veterans. As it marks its 80th anniversary, the legion continues to adapt to meet the needs of today’s veterans, including addressing the critical issue of homelessness.
Branch President Darlene Paulson is a lifelong member whose family has been part of the legion since its founding.
“I’ve been involved with this legion since before I was born," Paulson said. “My dad was one of the founding fathers that helped build the legion.”
According to information from the Ladysmith Legion’s website, a group of First World War veterans, led by Joe Grouhel Sr., Wm. Robinson, J.R. Plant and Gilbert Schofield, gathered to form Ladysmith’s own Royal Canadian Legion Branch 171 in 1943. Membership grew quickly and they moved from the Travellers Hotel to Nicholson Hall before securing a charter under the Royal Canadian Legion banner and purchasing the old Temperance Hotel in 1944. Soon, the need for a larger hall prompted plans for a new building and by 1953, construction began on the building the legion remains in today.
The new legion home was built by veterans of both world wars and support poured in from the community. Local businesses and volunteers donated time, materials and labour. When the building's foundation was being poured, a few men tossed coins and a dollar bill into the wet cement for good luck. But one man, J.B. Cloke, wrote a cheque in the amount of $1 million and placed it in the wet cement. “Then it was cheers and beers all around,” reads the legion's website.
The hall opened on March 27, 1954 thanks to more than 12,000 volunteer hours.
Central to the legion’s mission, then and now, is the annual poppy campaign, a hallmark of Remembrance Day in Canada. Each year, volunteers distribute poppies across the region, from Cedar to the Chemainus River Bridge, as a symbol of remembrance and as a means to raise funds for local veterans. Paulson stressed that proceeds raised stay within the community, providing critical assistance for those who have served.
“In Canada, the money from the poppy campaign stays local. It doesn’t go anywhere else; it helps the local veterans,” Paulson emphasized.
Poppy funds are used locally for medical needs, mobility aids, education bursaries for veterans and their families and more. These tangible contributions highlight how a simple poppy can translate into meaningful change for veterans who need it most.
One of the most pressing issues the legion tackles today is homelessness among veterans. As the organization marks its 80th year, it has prioritized reaching out to veterans experiencing homelessness, often through informal but crucial conversations right on the front steps of their own building.
“We’re really, really working on the homeless veteran situation,” said Paulson, noting that it’s sometimes difficult for veterans to ask for and accept help. Raised in a culture that did not discuss feelings and without mental health tools more prevalent today, many veterans simply don’t talk about their needs.
The legion’s service officer plays a central role in this outreach, connecting homeless veterans with essential resources while maintaining their privacy and dignity.
The legion has also assembled backpacks with essentials such as sleeping bags and toiletries to distribute as a temporary aid while further services are arranged.
To ensure the legion remains accessible to all, including those with mobility challenges, a fundraising effort is currently underway to install an accessible elevator. It’s a fitting project for an organization that has always strived to serve every veteran who comes through its doors.
“It’s something we really need,” Paulson noted, pointing to the aging population of their members and the building itself.
As the Ladysmith Legion reflects on eight decades of service, it also sets its sights on the future. The need for support isn’t going away, but neither is the legion’s commitment.
"We're here and we’re ready to help,” said Paulson.
She hopes that younger generations understand the freedoms they enjoy were secured by past sacrifices.
“You have the freedom to vote. You have the freedom of speech. You have so many freedoms in this country because of the young volunteer men and women who went overseas,” she said.
For people who haven’t known the realities of war, it’s understandably difficult to grasp just how young those men and women were and what they experienced.
“When I stand and look out in the audience and I see these young cadets, 17, 18. That was the age of most of them,” said Paulson.
As the Ladysmith Legion moves into its next chapter, there are many ways for the community to get involved. From volunteering at events to simply buying a poppy, every action makes a difference. As the legion is completely operated by volunteers, there’s no shortage of opportunities to show support.
The Ladysmith Legion has stood for 80 years as a testament to service, sacrifice and community. As it looks to the future, it welcomes all who wish to join in its mission of supporting local veterans with dignity and compassion.
