Celebrating 100 years as national legion, 80 for local branch

Royal Canadian Legion Branch #190 in Steinbach hosted a barbecue lunch on Sept. 26, to help celebrate the national organization’s 100th anniversary.

The local branch had its beginnings 20 years later, forming in 1946.

Branch Secretary Lauren Bilbey said they began in a small building on McKenzie Ave. which did not even have running water.

The local legion was homeless for a while after that building closed before they moved to a location on Elmdale. That was sold a decade ago, though they leased it back for a number of years, before they moved to their current office at 90 Brandt. St.

More than 80 members currently make up the Steinbach branch, and Bilbey said that national incentives have helped swell their numbers.

“This year being the 100th anniversary, the legion offered free membership,” she said. “If you were to purchase your membership for next year, they are also offering a chance to win an F150 truck.”

Legions across the country share a common mission.

“Our mission is to support veterans and their families and to help them find services that are available to them,” she said. “But we also support the community.”

The legion is best known for their annual poppy campaign and organizing a local Remembrance Day service.

Attendance keeps growing and Bilbey said they’ve outgrown the Pat Porter Active Living Centre, prompting them to plan this year’s event for the Southeast Event Centre.

This year the local branch also supported the community in other ways, purchasing an adapted bike for a four-year-old disabled child.

The rules for spending poppy campaign money also allow them to supply emergency services for veterans and their families and in the past, they’ve assisted local nursing homes and hospitals.

“The poppy fund has certain restrictions so there’s only certain places we can spend that money,” Bilbey said. “The community and surrounding area are very generous so we would encourage any veterans new and old, serving members including the RCMP to reach out to us if they’re in need of any assistance.”

“We’re always looking for ways to spend that money,” she added.

The Steinbach branch covers a wide geographical area from Lorette south to the U.S. border and east to the Ontario border.

Bilbey encourages people to get involved.

“We have a core group of volunteers that come out for a lot of events,” she said. “We would love to have a lot more people come out and be active serving members, people who can bring new ideas and we can have fun events.”

Free membership is available throughout 2026.

Bilbey has been a legion member for 43 years and said it’s a great atmosphere.

“We’re still here, we’re still serving, we’re still reaching out and hoping that people will connect with us,” she said.

For more information go to steinachlegion.ca.