The Royal Canadian Legion branch in MontrealB次元官网网址檚 Verdun borough meets once a week in a community centre space it rents by the hour, less than 500 metres from the elegant brick building it sold over a decade ago when maintenance costs got too high.

After years of rising rents, a forced move and general instability, its members are happy to have somewhere to meet. But president Darlene Harrison says one question keeps coming back: B次元官网网址淲hen are we going to have our own home again?B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 a question she doesnB次元官网网址檛 know how to answer. She recently went to check out a space, only to find out the rent was $6,700 per month B次元官网网址� not including costs like phone and internet.

B次元官网网址淎ll of these things cost money, and until we can generate the funds to cover it, itB次元官网网址檚 really not feasible at this point in time to try to rent a locale,B次元官网网址� she said in a recent phone interview.

Her branch isnB次元官网网址檛 alone. Even as they fundraise for other community organizations, some legions are having trouble keeping their own lights on amid rising inflation and maintenance costs.

The legion in Grenfell, Sask., recently made the same decision as Verdun and listed its building B次元官网网址� a former armoury B次元官网网址� for sale.

ItB次元官网网址檚 a matter of B次元官网网址渁ging membership and aging buildings,B次元官网网址� president Ken Box said. With only about 85 members, many of whom no longer live nearby, keeping the building just didnB次元官网网址檛 make sense.

B次元官网网址淲e spend way too much of our time fundraising to pay for the expenses on the building, and that takes away from what weB次元官网网址檙e supposed to be doing, which is supporting veterans and the community and promoting our members,B次元官网网址� Box said in a phone interview.

Once the building sells, he said, the legion will move to another space owned by the city, allowing it to focus on its B次元官网网址渃ore values.B次元官网网址�

Other legions are fighting to keep their buildings open, one spaghetti dinner, dance and bingo game at a time.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 the case in the Cape Breton town of Donkin, N.S. The legion hall was hit hard by post-Tropical Storm Fiona in 2022, which caused extensive roof damage and sent insurance rates shooting upwards.

Against all odds, the legion has managed to pay off its debts and stabilize its finances B次元官网网址� something president Wayne Boutilier credits to community support. He said the weekly dart league, businesses that donated goods for a draw, and former residents who continue to pay their dues from other provinces made it possible. More recently, the legion rented its building to the Nova Scotia government for seven weeks to use for the provincial election.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got everything pretty much paid off now that we owed,B次元官网网址� the former coal miner and retired oilfield worker said. B次元官网网址淏ut you still get your regular bills, like your lights, your heat, your internet.B次元官网网址�

While small, rural legions like DonkinB次元官网网址檚 may be the most vulnerable, theyB次元官网网址檙e not the only ones that struggle. The branch in the eastern Ottawa neighbourhood of Orleans has 800 to 900 members, but it had to turn to GoFundMe to raise money for a new roof in 2020. Its president says the 30-year-old building is still showing its age, and income has not kept up with the rising cost of utilities and maintenance.

B次元官网网址淥ur main source of income is hall rentals, and we need to update our facilities to attract more rentals,B次元官网网址� Wyn Fournier wrote in an email. B次元官网网址淗owever, we donB次元官网网址檛 have the income to spend money on that. ItB次元官网网址檚 a nasty circle.B次元官网网址�

The Royal Canadian Legion said in an email that while a few of its branches may be in trouble, they represent B次元官网网址渁 very tiny percentage of the wholeB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渨ould not be indicative of whatB次元官网网址檚 going on provincially or nationally.B次元官网网址� It noted that overall membership is growing, and that two new branches have recently opened.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced branches to temporarily shut their doors, depleting their financial reserves and putting many at risk of closure. Since then, the situation has stabilized, but the legions that spoke to The Canadian Press say theyB次元官网网址檙e still struggling to rebuild lost savings and lure people back to in-person activities.

The Kingsway Branch in Edmonton, whose finances suffered during the pandemic, is no longer at risk of closure, though financial chairman Ron Wills says it hasnB次元官网网址檛 fully recovered.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e still having financial difficulties. WeB次元官网网址檙e still living paycheque to paycheque, so to speak,B次元官网网址� he said. He said the legion doesnB次元官网网址檛 rule out having to sell its building one day, though he hopes it doesnB次元官网网址檛 happen.

Rules around legion fundraising are strict. The money raised by the annual poppy campaign, for example, is reserved exclusively for veterans, leaving legions to pay their bills from membership dues and fundraisers.

Despite the challenges, legion branches say there are positive things happening. In Verdun, Harrison said, a membership drive has helped recruit new, younger members who bring fresh ideas. SheB次元官网网址檚 proud of the work the legion does, which includes supporting local schools and homeless shelters in addition to organizations dedicated to veterans.

She wants people to know they donB次元官网网址檛 have to be a veteran to join or to offer support B次元官网网址� and that more members are always welcome. B次元官网网址淚f you have an interest in helping and volunteering and doing things for your community, here we are,B次元官网网址� she said.