Any Canadian citizen may apply for membership in the legion.
(All applications for membership are subject to the General Bylaws of the Royal Canadian Legion and local Branch Bylaws).

Annual dues are $45 ($35 for seniors) - plus $1.00 for annual parking pass

Membership is open to ex-service people and their familes, parents, children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews.
Included are ex-service people of NATO and NORAD member nations. Also, if you have served in Federal, Provincial, or Municipal police forces, or in Sea, Army or Air Cadets.

You can also become an Affiliate Member, if you have no ex-service family member.

Ordinary Membership - You may be eligible for Ordinary membership if you have served or are serving in:

The Canadian Forces or Her Majesty's Forces (regular force or reserve force with class "C" service);
or the Forces or underground forces of any of Her Majesty's allies in a war or police action in which Canada was involved;
or the Merchant Navy or non-military services in an actual theatre of war in which Canada was involved;
or Her Majesty's reserve force including Cadet Instructors on the Cadet Cadre. Must have at least one year (12 months) service; or
or The Royal Canadian Mounted Police or The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary for not less than one year;
or the Forces of a country while that country was a member of NATO or NORAD in alliance with Canada;
or the United States Forces;
or the Vietnam War with the Armed Forces of the United States, Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea or South Vietnam, and were a Canadian citizen or Commonwealth subject at the time of service;
or the Canadian Coast Guard as an officer or crew member who has two or more years active service on the high seas or inland waterways;
or a city, municipal or provincial police force as a police officer for at least one year.

Associate Membership - You may be eligible for Associate membership if you:

are the child, stepchild, grandchild, sibling, niece/nephew, widow/er, parent or spouse of someone who is or was eligible for Ordinary membership;
or are the child of an Associate member;
or have served in The Royal Canadian Sea, Army or Air Cadets for not less than 3 years;
or have been a cadet civilian instructor for not less than 3 years;
or have served as an officer in the Navy League of Canada for not less than 2 years;
or have served in the Polish Armed Forces after WW II;
or have served in a City, Municipal, Volunteer, Un-organized Territories or Federal Fire Service for not less than one year
or are the spouse, parent or sibling of an associate member who qualified subject to the above criteria.

Affiliate Voting Membership

Affiliate voting membership is open to any Canadian citizen or Commonwealth subject who is of federal voting age and who is not eligible for ordinary or associate membership.

Legon gets boost in members

Port Moody firefighters Mike Shefley and Brad Robinson are welcomed to the PoMo Legion by members Orme Payne, Leo Braniff and Bill Berrow. CRAIG HODGE/THE TRI-CITY NEWS

By Sarah Payne - The Tri-City News
Published: May 06, 2010 6:00 PM

Each Remembrance Day there are fewer and fewer of them — the aging veterans who served as Canadian soldiers in the First and Second World Wars.

Bedecked with medals and solemn pride, they’re a symbol of Canada’s role in historic battles like Vimy Ridge and Dieppe, its peacekeeping missions throughout the world and the men and women currently serving in Afghanistan.

But their numbers are dwindling and have been for many years now. At Port Moody’s Royal Canadian Legion Branch 133 membership has dropped by half in the last 20 years.

That’s about to change.

Each member of the Port Moody Firefighters Union Local 2399 have become official Legion members, to be marked with a ceremony later this month. Of the 41 new additions, 20 are renewing their membership and 21 are signing up as new members.

“It’s wonderful,” said membership chair Karen Spence. “No, it’s absolutely phenomenal. It’s great.”

Usually new members sign up in a trickle, maybe a handful of middle-aged folks a year, so having 41 young people sign up at once represents a huge boost — hopefully a long-term one — for Legion numbers, Spence said.

“We’re a part of the community, as is the fire department, and I guess a way to put it is, this just brings a lot more community spirit.”

Firefighter Greg Hadden said the idea came up at a union meeting recently, where they decided to show their support for the Legion by getting everyone to join.

“We like to do whatever we can in the community and the Legion is a big part of it,” Hadden said. “We just wanted to show our support to other Legion members and veterans, not only the veterans of the past but the present ones as well.”

Hadden comes from a family of Legion members and his own membership in the PoMo branch had lapsed several years ago. He volunteered to sort out which firefighters needed new Legion memberships or renewals and said all of the union members quickly jumped on board.

“It was fully supported by everyone, it was voted in right away. Everybody felt it was a great idea.”

Their Legion membership will also be boosted by a donation, collected from union members, of $3,600. The PoMo Legion donates money to the Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation, local schools, Scouts programs and athletes.

Spence said adding 41 members to its 420 is a positive step towards keeping the Legion going.

“We have people serving in Afghanistan right now, and these people are coming back home and not only is it a social thing, to me it fosters a sense of belonging.”

Hadden said firefighters will continue helping the Legion as they always have, whether it’s for their Remembrance Day services, the car show or bringing the ladder truck over when flag pole work is needed. But joining as members means something more.

“It’s showing respect for the veterans in the community that have given so much and made so many sacrifices,” he said. “This is our little way of saying, ‘Thank you, we are here to support you.’”

spayne@tricitynews.com

Membership Application Form.

Legon gets boost in members