Members of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 173 in Osoyoos are inviting the entire community to come and join the fun as Legion Week celebrations are ready to roll once again.
Legion branches across Canada will be holding special celebrations throughout Legion Week, which runs from Friday, June 26 until Canada Day.
Here in Osoyoos, the fun begins Friday night with a First Responders, Town Employees and Families Barbecue party.
Local ambulance employees and volunteer members with the Osoyoos Fire Department will join town employees and their families for the barbecue, which will take place in the Legion parking lot between 4-7 p.m.
All members of the community are invited to participate in the Free Family Breakfast, which begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 27.
A full house is expected on Sunday as the Legion will be hosting a community Meet and Greet throughout the day.
“We want people from the community to come down and see what we have to offer and get to meet our members and hopefully consider joining us,” said Branch 173 president Bruce Davies.
‘This is a chance for residents to meet our members and for our members to reach out to the community and invite them to join us as members.”
A dart tournament that will be open to the public will be held on Monday, June 28 starting at 7 p.m., while a pool tournament for members and guests will begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday evening.
Legion Week wraps up with Canada Day celebrations on Wednesday, July 1 as there will be a beer garden throughout the day, meat draws and entertainment by popular singer-songwriter Rick Hillis from Vancouver.
“All members of the family are welcome as our license allows us to serve a beer and bring the kids,” said Davies.
Legion Week is one of the premier events of the year at the Osoyoos branch and senior management is hoping dozens of new members will join the current list of 550 members, said Davies.
“We’re always looking for new members,” he said. “We have very good numbers here in Osoyoos as we have roughly 10 per cent of the population signed up, but we’re always looking to add more and we’re particularly hoping to get younger members to join.
“We have a very friendly atmosphere here and there’s always something going on, so we encourage newcomers to town and those who live here, but haven’t checked out the Legion to come on down and take a look at all we have to offer.”
Anyone wanting more information about Branch 173 or Legion Week activities can phone 250-495-7447.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
