Barrhead Royal Canadian Legion re-opening tentatively set for Oct. 2

BARRHEAD-It has been a long wait for Barrhead's Royal Canadian Legion.

In mid-March, the service club closed its doors due to restrictions brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.

However, if things go as planned their doors will once again be open to the public Oct. 2 as part of a soft opening, starting with its popular meat draw.

Although other legions in the region have reopened as part of Stage 2 of the province's Economic Relaunch Plan in June, the Barrhead Legion's doors have remained closed.

Part of the issue said president John Tiemstra is that the legion was in the process of renewing its liquor licences when the crux of the pandemic hit and as a result, the process took much longer than anticipated.

"Like many businesses, many government departments staff, including the AGLC (Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis) started working from home, so that slowed down our application," he said.

Tiemstra said the other thing that slowed their opening is that the Legion is renovating the downstairs in preparation for the installation of video lottery terminals commonly referred to as VLTs.

The Legion does not know if their application will be successful, but He said this is in the effort to find a more stable and predictable source of funding.

Because of the VLTs as well as licencing requirements when the Legion reopens, much of their traditional activities will be held upstairs such as the lounge and the meat draw. Because the Legion does not qualify to be included in the restaurant, pub or bar category, which have no capacity restrictions as long as other public health restrictions are followed, the Legion maximum capacity for events is 50.

Which suits Tiemstra fine.

"Because of the age of many of our members and patrons, who are more vulnerable to COVID we have to be especially careful," he said.

Remembrance Day

The Legion is also in the process of planning the community's Remembrance Day ceremonies.

By necessity, due to COVID restrictions, Tiemstra said Barrhead's annual Remembrance Day ceremony will look vastly different.

In recent years, Barrhead's Remembrance Day ceremony has been held mosy in the Barrhead Elementary School gymnasium with components being held at the War Memorial.

However, this year Pembina Hills School Division is not allowing its facilities to be used.

And if even if they could, Tiemstra said, they would be restricted to the 50 people.

"The other thing we can't have is a parade marching to the cenotaph. Members of the Canadian Armed Forces will not be present, as it is not allowed," he said. "Nor are cadets. They are not allowed to participate on November 11 or help with the distribution of poppies."

But having said that, Tiemstra said the Legion will find a way to honour the Canadian Armed Forces personnel past and present who sacrificed to protect freedom and Canadian values.

"We're not sure what it will look like yet," he said, adding he just received a guidance document from Alberta's Royal Canadian Legion command for the poppy campaign and Remembrance Day ceremonies. "It isn't the ideal situation, but all we can do is do our best to try to roll with the punches."

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com