Norwood Legion in Edmonton raises money with hopes of avoiding permanent closure – Edmonton
It’s a spot the place veterans in Edmonton unite, play video games and socialize. The Royal Canadian Legion Norwood Department 178 has been round for the reason that Forties.
However as of late, the legion has fallen on robust instances.
“We’re in danger for closing, we’re in all probability not more than 14 days away from closing,” Royal Canadian Legion Norwood Department 178 Enterprise Supervisor Invoice Huziek stated.
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Huziek added {that a} tough few years, plus the pandemic, has the legion dealing with greater than $200,000 in debt, and that’s not all.
“We’re in determined want of updating our infrastructure on the within, our kitchen facility massively must be redone, our bar facility must be upgraded and our POS techniques should be redone,” he stated.
Huziek famous these upgrades are important to assist generate income.
Nevertheless, it isn’t simply the Norwood legion that’s struggling to maintain up. Huziek stated many others are coping with comparable difficulties.
“Each legion throughout Canada is combating membership points and volunteers,” Huziek stated
Only a few months in the past, the Kingsway Legion was additionally liable to closing its doorways.
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Edmonton’s Kingsway Legion liable to closing: ‘We don’t need to lose this’
Legion President Mike Sirman stated he needs folks to know the legion is now “not solely” for veterans, however for everybody. He hopes to draw a youthful demographic by means of a few of the adjustments which have been made, together with a pivot from conventional occasions to issues comparable to wrestling matches and dances.
Sirman stated the legion has began a GoFundMe, in hopes that Edmontonians will donate to assist maintain the legion alive.
“I feel it could be a significant loss to the neighborhood and metropolis as a result of this has been kind of an icon for a very long time within the metropolis,” Sirman stated.
