Branch 202 received its charter, under the British Empire Service League in 1931, five years after the “Unity Conference” was held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to form the Canadian Legions for a strong unified voice for the Veterans who returned from the First World War.

1931 Charter

The objectives of the Legions were to advocate for fair pensions for Veterans returning from war, to look after the family members of the Veterans and the Veterans themselves, if there was a need. The Legions assisted in rebuilding their communities, and encouraged local businesses to hire a Veteran. Many Veterans were able to return to their former occupation or career that they had left to join the military.

    Many of the elected executive members for the new Legion were First War Veterans from the Lion’s Head and Stokes Bay Areas. Soldiers who did not return from the wars were buried overseas and recognized on the Cenotaphs in the Stokes Bay Cemetery, at Monument Corners in Lindsay Township and at the Cenotaph in Memorial Gardens in Lion’s Head. Many Veterans from both World Wars are also buried in the Eastnor Cemetery. There is no monument in Eastnor Cemetery to mark Remembrance of these Veterans as the monument was moved to Lion’s Head.

    The first Executive meeting for Branch 202 was held on Knife Island, near Stokes Bay. The Veterans paid for a boat to take them to Knife Island. At this meeting they elected a Sergeant-at-Arms and Dr. Bell was elected as the first President in 1931.

    During the 30s, the Legion Executive and Members met in different locations including the Township Halls in Lion’s Head or Ferndale, Veterans’ homes or cottages, the Horticultural Society House in Lion’s Head, the Orange Hall and different locations in Stokes Bay. The meeting dates and times were chosen from meeting to meeting.

    During the Second World War, the Lion’s Head Legion was held in-trust by the President and the Secretary-Treasurer with regular Legion activities continuing after the war. The objectives of the Legion remained the same and added that Veterans were also given a Veteran’s Lot Allowance (VLA) to build a home for his or her family.

    In 1948, the Ontario Legions were incorporated by a special proclamation of the Ontario Legislature.

Ladies Auxiliary 1951 Charter

    In 1951, the Lion’s Head Legion Ladies Auxiliary received a charter from the British Empire Service League, and this Charter is still displayed on the wall at the Legion. Ina Hatt was the first Ladies Auxiliary President, a Veteran from the Second World War. After the war, she moved to Canada and raised her family with her husband in the Lion’s Head area. She was also a Branch member.

    During these years a member of the Legion was a Veteran from the Canadian Military Service often with Overseas Service.

    In the 50s, the Youth Track and Field Program was added to the objectives of the Legions. Many great athletes across Canada have benefitted by this program and it continues to this day. The young people in the schools were encouraged to Remember on Remembrance Day, November 11th when Legion Members, in uniform dress, would visit the schools to take part in the Remembrance Day Service programs.

    The Lion’s Head Legion met monthly in the Legion Hall located in the Horticultural Society Building in Lion’s Head. The Executive and the membership provided Remembrance Services, donated to community groups and held fundraisers when there was a need. The Executive often planned sport activities and dances for the community and Legion members.

    In1960, Queen Elizabeth II gave her consent to add “Royal” in front of Canadian Legion, therefore, the Lion’s Head Legion was now the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 202, Lion’s Head.

    In 1964, the Legion Executive, in co-operation with Ontario Command, purchased the Swan Lake one room schoolhouse for $500.00 from the local school board, which then became the Legion Hall and meetings were held there monthly.

    In 1979 and 1980, plans were made to construct an addition to the hall which included a kitchen, washrooms, a small hall and a furnace room. This additional space allowed for dinners to be prepared and served at the Legion. Community groups were then able to book dates to hold a dinner at the Legion. Dances were also planned and held at the Hall.

    The Lion’s Head and Ferndale Lions Club members have held their twice monthly meetings, except in July and August for many years. The Lioness of Lion’s Head and Ferndale have a dinner meeting once a month, except in May, July and August, that the Ladies Auxiliary prepare and serve.

    The Legion has had many updates since the addition was added, including a dishwasher, two stoves, a large cooler and two freezers were added to the kitchen, to assist with the many dinners that are prepared for the membership and the community.

    In the 90s, the ,Branch 202 had continued to donate to Community and Youth programs, to observe Remembrance through services at Lindsay Township, known as Monument Corners and at the Lion’s Head Cenotaph on Remembrance Day, to offer sport and card activities at the Legion for Branch, Ladies Auxiliary and Community members and planned dances throughout the year.

    The Branch and Ladies Auxiliary members are recognized for their years of service and positions held as executives every September at the Honours and Awards Night. The Zone and Deputy Zone Commanders often attend to assist in presenting the medals, awards and pins. The evening begins with a social hour, then a pot luck dinner with the awards being presented afterwatds.

    During 2000 to 2010, there were additional programs and rituals established for the Branch to follow and support. The Millennium Project included the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier sponsored by the Legions and the establishment of the Two Minute Wave of Silence during Remembrance Services and at the opening of General Meetings in the Legion Hall.

    The Lion’s Head Legion continued to reach out to support community activities and events. Donations were given to the Legion and Ladies Auxiliary Charitable Foundation, The Bursary Program for Youth for higher Education, the District “C” Hospital Fund, the Veterans Care Program at Parkwood Hospital in London, Ontario, and the Owen Sound Cadet Corps. These donations are given yearly from the Poppy Trust Fund or from the General Account Fund.

    The Branch members invite the Veterans and their spouses or caregivers in the local area to a Veterans’ Dinner in October. The Veterans’ Dinner is paid for through the Poppy Trust Fund.

    Fun activities have been planned for the Community and the members such as darts, euchre, cribbage, a Grey Cup Party in November, a New Years’ Eve Dinner and Dance, a Ladies Auxiliary Christmas Bazaar, a special Ladies’ Christmas Luncheon in December and a joint Christmas Open House.

    The Branch and the Ladies Auxiliary members work very hard on their fundraising projects which include the Country Roast Beef Dinner in July, the Fish Dinner in August, the various Ladies Auxiliary dinners prepared and served for community groups and the “meat pie making days”, as scheduled.

    The Secretary of the Legion prepares a Monthly Newsletter & Calendar of upcoming events, which are posted on the Branch’s website, lionsheadlegionbranch202.ca. Members are encouraged to use the website for communication about Branch Events and Dominion and Ontario Command updates.

    In 2014, at the Dominion Convention in Edmonton, the definition of a Veteran was revised. The new definition states that a Veteran is any person who is serving or has honourably served in the Canadian Armed Forces, the Commonwealth or its wartime allies, a Regular Member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, a Peace Officer in a Special Duty Area or on a Special Duty Operation, or who has served in the Merchant Navy or Ferry Command during wartime.

    The Lion’s Head Legion continues to carry on the traditions and the mandates from the Royal Canadian Legion Dominion and Ontario Commands. The Legions monitor the needs of the Veterans and make recommendations to Veteran Affairs.

    In 2015, the Mission Statement from Dominion Command was. “The Legion Mission is to serve Veterans, which include serving military and RCMP members and their families; to promote Remembrance; and to serve our communities and our country.”

    The Branch 202 has historically reached out to their Veterans and their families, donated to youth sports and activities, followed rituals of Remembrance during the Remembrance Day Services and the laying of the wreaths to honour the memory and the sacrifice of the honoured Veterans at Monument Corners on the Lindsay Side Road and the Cenotaph at the Memorial Gardens in Lion’s Head. The Lion’s Head Peninsula District School staff and students have attended the service with the community and Legion members in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

We Will Remember Them
Lest We Forget

Researched and written by Sharron Colter