The Royal Canadian Legion celebrates 100 years of serving veterans and their families

Victoria County - This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion and all the legions across Canada are offering free membership to new members who join in 2026, allowing more Canadians to become part of the legacy of an organization whose mission revolves around serving veterans and their families.

“We are so proud of this organization and its members and thrilled at the prospect of welcoming new members from all parts of Canada to our ranks during our centenary year, many of whom we hope will be with us for a long time to come,” said Berkley Lawrence, Dominion President.

“Among them, will be great volunteers, fresh ideas, and all of them will truly strengthen our dedicated and growing membership of over 270,000 people.”

What is now known as The Royal Canadian Legion, began during the First World War with an initial focus on advocacy. 100 years after its incorporation, the legions are still an advocate for veterans and their families, the guardian of Remembrance, and a community force in many areas across Canada, with over 1,350 branches throughout the country.

Queen Elizabeth II first granted the Legion the word Royal in 1960, and Canada’s Governor General remains the vice regal patron of The Royal Canadian Legion to this day.

“Over the decades, the Legion has been a beacon of assistance through two World Wars, significant military conflicts, peacekeeping missions, and social upheavals such as the latest global pandemic,” noted a statement issued by the Royal Canadian Legion’s headquarters. “Literally millions of people have been touched by the work of the Legion and its branches, through good times and bad. Members and volunteers have been instrumental to its great success.”

Throughout the year, the Legion held various special events at the national, provincial, and local levels. During the Royal Canadian Legion’s official anniversary on July 17, Legion Branch 53 in Baddeck held a ceremony recognizing its official new name, in honour of a local First World War hero, Major Percival Anderson Memorial.

Anderson was born in 1885, in Big Baddeck and became a farmer who was active in the local militia. He then served six years in the 94th Victoria Regiment, Argyll Highlanders, which was the pre-curser to the Cape Breton Highlanders.

At the battle for Vimy Ridge, the 85th Battalion was tasked with capturing an enemy strongpoint on Hill 145, a dominating feature on the ridge. Anderson, who was in command of D Company, led his men and took their objective.

On a solo mission, Anderson captured or eliminated several machine gun positions and later went into no man’s land, while under heavy fire, to carry a wounded comrade to safety. For his leadership and bravery in the face of the enemy he was awarded Canada’s Military Cross.

A picture of Anderson and the story of his military journey has been represented for years on a wall in the Baddeck Legion, which now bears the local hero’s name.

Incorporated in 1926, the Legion is Canada’s largest veteran support and community service organization. A non-profit organization, they have a national reach across Canada as well as branches in the U.S. and Europe.

Copyright 2026, Victoria Reporter. All rights reserved.

Adam McNamara, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Victoria Reporter.