Laura Haight named Kincardine's Legionnaire of the Year

Laura Haight was somewhat surprised and shocked to hear her name called as the Legionnaire of the Year at Sunday evening's Honours and Awards and Volunteer Appreciation Banquet at the Royal Canadian Legion, McDonald Branch 183, Kincardine.

As she accepted the award, standing with her husband, Ken Corbett, she acknowledged Cathy Alcombrack and Stew Neely who have worked as hard as she has, and could easily have received this award.

"I'm sure it was at a bonspiel that Cathy and I came up with the idea of Trivia Night at the Legion," said Haight, "and I have been co-chairman of the poppy campaign with Stew for five years. It's the little things that everybody does, the hundreds of people who put in one or two hours volunteering. The Legion could not function without you."

In announcing Haight as Legionnaire of the Year, event co-ordinator Robert Grey said she has made a significant contribution to the success of the Kincardine Legion over the past eight years as a member.

She organized the 2011 Legion Fun Golf Tournament, served on the executive, has been a youth education chairman, poppy chairman or poppy co-chairman since 2011. In conjunction with the Walker House, she spearheaded the project to put banners of local First World War veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice, on the main street of Kincardine and Tiverton during the Remembrance campaign each year.

Lately, she has hosted the monthly Trivia Nights which have become very popular with people of all ages from the community.

"Without this person's contribution, our McDonald Branch 183 would not be the same," said Grey. "Congratulations, Laura Haight, Legionnaire of the Year."

Certificates of Appreciation went to the following:

Glenna Angus and Betty Lou Dennison, members for two years, who have contributed significantly to the success of the catered functions. They contact volunteers to help in the kitchen or in the hall at catered events. They also volunteer, themselves, to help at many functions.

Doug Holtby, a member of four years, who volunteers in many ways, cutting the grass, spraying the weeds, He is also a member of the House Committee. Since the Legion does not have volleyball courts, Holtby has organized a shuffleboard league which was well-attended.

Beth Hayes who was the office administrator and has since left that job for other opportunities. Her efforts were appreciated as she worked to advance the operations at the Kincardine branch.

Heather Finnie who is one of the volunteers helping members of the community who need medical aid equipment from the Kincardine branch supply. She helps out quite often, especially when needed to clean up the storage area, clean out broken and worn-out equipment, and find homes for wheelchairs that do not fold up. Her help is greatly appreciated.

Certificates of Merit went to the following:

Diane Picot for outstanding service to the Kincardine branch in organizing the annual Legion Craft Show for the past 10 years.

Liz Dadson who attends Legion functions or presentations to take photos and gather information for the on-line news source, the Kincardine Record

Jennifer Farrell for outstanding service to the Kincardine branch, providing bagpipe music at Legion functions and parades for many years. She is always eager to volunteer.

Past Officer Medal and Bars were presented to the following:
 

• Jim McDonald, first vice-president bar and public relations bar
• Stephanie Rutledge, past officer medal and executive bar
• Maureen Couture, TOD bar (leadership)
• Robert Fletcher, public relations bar

Membership pins went to the following:

Five years

• Barret Book
• Helen Book
• Eleanor Hepburn
• Marie McNulty
• John Paterson

Ten years

• John Adams
• Carolyn Hamilton
• Lynda MacKenzie
• Donald Roppel
• Eric Williams
• Lynda Williams

Fifteen years

• Andrew Brownrigg
• Thomas Cuyler
• Reita Linklater
• Gary Maycock
• David Nathanson
• Susan Pym
• John Ryan

Twenty years

• Norman Annetts
• Dale Flood
• David Little
• Jack Muszynski

Twenty-five years

• Rose Gentles
• Larry Hardwick
• Lorna Hutton
• Kaye MacDonald
• John Thomas

Thirty years

• Beverley Ross

Thirty-five years

• Diane Breadner
• Jack Tully

Forty years

• Nelson Boals
• Patrick Farr
• Kevin MacKay
• Dan McManus
• James Wade

Forty-five years

• William Hardie

Fifty years

• Clifford Buckingham

Members who have died in the past year:

• Sharon Arnold
• Richard Colwell
• Muriel Newton
• Jack Demmar
• Iolene Bradley
• Don Thorne
• Gerry Whynotte
• Donald Weber
• Eugene Harrison
• Peter Dekker

Grey noted that in 2015, there were 119 volunteers who helped three times or more at the Legion, and 62 who helped one or two times.

As for charitable donations, from June, 2015, to present:

• From Bingo, $825
• From Blanket Licence, $5,500
• From Provincial Nevada - $1,385
• From Twoonie - $600
• From General - $500
• For a total of $8,810

From October, 2015, to present, donations from from the poppy fund totalled $22,000.