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(Submitted photo/Royal Canadian Legion/Facebook)
one time support

B.C. legions get pandemic-relief funding

Jun 2, 2021 | 12:38 PM

VICTORIA — The B.C. government is helping legions get through the financial crunch of COVID-19.

The province is providing $1.5 million in new relief funding to ensure the social agencies can continue providing essential community services to its 47,000 members in B.C., including veterans and their families.

The one-time support will help offset the impacts of the pandemic and recent circuit-breaker restrictions.

The Royal Canadian Legion BC/Yukon Command has 145 branches, serving veterans, ex-service personnel, seniors and youth.

“Legions play an important role in our communities, caring for the people who have served our nation,” Premier John Horgan said. “Our government is committed to finding a solution, and we’re delivering support to ensure legions can keep serving veterans, their families and our communities.”

Legions generate a significant portion of revenue to fund their services through food and beverage service, which was disrupted by public health orders preventing people from gathering indoors.

The $1.5 million is similar to the average grant provided to businesses under the Circuit Breaker Business Relief Grant and aligns with support provided by the federal government.