The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 182 in Gimli is joining nationwide celebrations this weekend to mark the Legion’s 100th anniversary, highlighting a century of supporting veterans and the community.
The milestone marks the national centenary of the Legion, which was incorporated on July 17, 1926. Branches across Canada are holding open houses, barbecues and special commemorations to mark the occasion.
Gimli’s cenotaph, a stone and brick War Memorial on First Avenue, was built by the local Legion in 1967 as a centennial project. It honours those who died in the First World War, Second World War and Korean War, and remains a focal point for remembrance.
The anniversary weekend is part of a broader push by the Rural Municipality of Gimli to attract visitors through its #exploregimli campaign, which promotes the town as “The Heart of New Iceland” and highlights lake life less than an hour from Winnipeg.
Nationally, the Legion’s membership has surpassed 300,000 this year, growing by 100,000 during its centenary, according to recent reports.
