Our Youth
Canada's Future
About
the Legion
The
Legion is a strong supporter of a variety of national, provincial,
local and community level youth program. The Legion is one
of the largest single supporters of Boy Scouts, Girl Guides
and related groups in Canada and is also a major supporter
of sea, army and air cadets. Altogether, the Legion sponsors
approximately 6,000 individual youth programs in Canada.
An
important objective of the Legion is to ensure that Canada's
youth understand why they are living in a free country. Perpetuating
the remembrance of those Canadians that gave their lives for
this country is of the utmost importance to the Legion.
For
a copy of latest edition of the youth newsletter, click below.
Youth
Newsletter
Education
The
Legion offers bursaries and scholarships at all levels. These
range from secondary schools to universities. Donations are
also given by branches and auxiliaries to schools for the
handicapped towards the purchase of learning aids and other
items. Applications for bursaries and scholarships can be
obtained through local Legion branches.
Mission
Statement
1. Support the development of youth and amateur sport
and any program, which enhances the good and well being of
youth within the boundaries of BC/Yukon Command.
2. Promote awareness of youth programs, which BC/Yukon Command
and The Royal Canadian Legion in general support and or contribute
to.
3. Promote public awareness of the contributions made by The
Royal Canadian Legion Branches and Ladies Auxiliary toward
the development and financial aid of such programs.
4. Promote the further development of new and innovative programs,
which will further enhance the lives of young people within
the communities of BC/Yukon Command.
5. Endeavor to seek out sponsors and professional development
programs, which will further enhance our ability to provide
new programs to the young people of this Command.
6. Work with agencies such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
to provide programs for the awareness of drugs, alcohol, and
violence so that our young people may live and learn in a
safe environment.
Goals and Objectives:
1. Provide Zones and Branches with the latest information
to allow them to promote these programs within their communities.
2. Develop a program for use by this Command in Leadership
and Development workshops outlining the purpose of the youth
committee.
3. Promote the advantages of these programs not only to the
youth but also to their parents and the community in general.
4. Work with other organizations within the boundaries of
BC/Yukon Command to develop and promote programs to enhance
youth activities.
5. Promote the Call to Remembrance Program and develop a Command
wide competition.
6. Assist those branches that are interested in developing
a Youth Auxiliary and help promote the advantages of this
program to the branches within BC/Yukon Command.
7. Promote all programs as outlined in the Youth Committee
brochure as to give all young people within BC/Yukon Command
a better community lifestyle and enhance the Legion’s
image in the community.
Yes comrades it is the responsibility of the Youth Committee
at BC/Yukon Command to help develop and promote these worthwhile
programs but we will not achieve these objectives without
the aid of the Branches and the Ladies Auxiliary of this Command.
We have been long known within the Commands of this great
organization as innovators and will continue to enhance this
image whenever and wherever possible.
Harvey P Truax Chairman
Susan Paterson
Cheryl Truax
Donna Price ad hoc
Pilgrimage of Remembrance
The
Legion organizes a Pilgrimage of Remembrance to perpetuate
the remembrance of those Canadians who fought and died for
our country. The Pilgrimage visits World War I and II battlefields,
the cemeteries where our fallen are buried and the monuments
to their valour. Dominion Command of The Royal Canadian Legion
sponsors 10 youth leaders, each of whom is selected by a provincial
command. Individual branches, commands and government departments
are encouraged to sponsor additional persons. The participants
are selected on the following basis: age of majority and a
Legion member; active as leaders of youth groups, such as
teachers, instructors, coaches; and the willingness and ability
to pass on the experiences gained not only to their own group,
but also to other groups, especially youth.
Remembrance
Contests/Ceremonies
The
Legion conducts annual services of remembrance in the nation's
capital and in communities throughout Canada every November
11th in memory of and to honor those who sacrificed their
lives in Canada's wars. Yearly Remembrance essay, poster and
poetry contests are held nation-wide. These contests are based
on a specific theme, for example, "Remembrance" and contestants
are challenged to exercise their initiative in writing and
drawing on this theme. Senior winners at the national level
receive a trip to Ottawa to represent Canadian Youth at the
National Remembrance Ceremony.
Encounters
with Canada - Terry Fox Youth Centre
Encounters with Canada, is a one-week program of Canadian
studies held at the Terry Fox Canadian Youth Centre in Ottawa.
From late September to early December and from late January
to early May, over 138 high school students, aged 14 to 17,
come from across the country to our Nation’s Capital
for a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Their objective is to bring together young Canadians from
different backgrounds and regions in order to give them an
opportunity to learn about one another, to discover their
country through each other and gain a better understanding
of Canadian institutions.
The program week is broke up into two parts. The first part
of the week is centered on Canadian Institutions and includes
visits to Parliament, the Senate and a guided tour of the
National Capital Region. The second part of the week is organized
around one of eleven (11) themes: Sports and Fitness, Arts
and Culture, Medicine and Health, Science and Technology,
Law, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Journalism and Communications,
Business and Entrepreneurship, Social Sciences, International
Affairs, and Canada Remembers.
Every 14-17 year old registered in an educational institution
recognized by his or her province’s Ministry of Education,
may apply. Participants must be Canadian citizens or landed
immigrants. Students are selected in each region upon the
recommendation of the school authorities, and the basis of
the regional quota. This year the quota for British Columbia
is 546 or 21 weekly.
Here is a list of Regional coordinators in your area in case
your Branch would like to sponsor a deserving student. I can
tell you from past experience that this is a wonderful program
and each Branch should try and participate as a sponsor. Armstrong
Branch #35 sponsored a young lady from the area to go on this
program and she was totally impressed with what she learned
and the friends she made from all across this great country.
Bursary
Application: Click here
ENCOUNTERS WITH CANADA
BRITISH COLUMBIA PERSONNEL
B.
C. President: - 2005
Gary Bennett,
1000 Lone Pine Drive,
Kelowna, B. C., V1P 1M7
Home
Phone: 250-491-1910
Business Phone: 250-491-0610
Fax: 250-491-0520
Email: benfin@shaw.ca
Regional Coordinators
C0 1 – Vancouver Island
Audrey Waddy,
2231 Rosewood Ave.,
Duncan, B. C., V9L 3E8
Home
Phone: 250-746-6467
Fax: 250-746-6467
Email: audreywaddy@telus.net
C0
2 – Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, New Westminster
Meiyan Yip ,
701 Sydney Ave.,
Coquitlam, B. C., V3K 3K3
Business
Phone: 604-517-6228
Business Fax: 604-517-6204
Business Email: mYip@sd40.bc.ca
Home Phone: 604-937-3168
Home Email: jmqyip@shaw.ca
C0
3 – Southern Fraser Valley
Alf Clark,
15273 Marine Dr.,
Whiterock, B. C.,
V4B 1C7
Home
Phone: 604-531-8936
DUKE
OF EDINBURGH AWARDS
The
Duke of Edinburgh Awards are designed to challenge young Canadians
between the ages of 14 and 25 years to reach for their best.
The awards are designed in ascending standards of achievement:
Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. Each standard provides for
training, achievement, and recognition in the basics of good
citizenship. A wide variety of interests are embraced, including
physical activities, educational training, self-discipline,
and service to the community - all designed to advance the
physical, mental and spiritual welfare of young people.
There are four major components of the Award Program, service,
skills, expeditions and physical recreation. All these programs
are designed to test the limits and help the young people
realize their full potential.
The Royal Canadian Legion is a proud sponsor of the Duke of
Edinburgh Awards and Branches throughout our Command can become
involved with this worthwhile program by contacting:
The Duke of Edinburgh Award Office
British Columbia and Yukon Division
Suite 204 Market Square 560 Johnson Street
Victoria, B.C. V8W 3C6
250-385-4232(Victoria) or 604-682-5543 (Vancouver) or toll
free 1-888-881-7788
fax 250-385-1433.
dea@islandnet.com
British Columbia Yukon Division at www.dukeofed.org/bc/yukon/index.htm
I would like at this time to recognize those Branches that
have supported this program and have brought recognition to
themselves and The Royal Canadian Legion in general in the
recent publication of the Award News for The Duke of Edinburgh
you were all given credit for your contributions to this worthwhile
program:
#8 Surrey
#11 Trail
#263 Coquitlam
#6 Cloverdale
#26 Kelowna
#31 Victoria
#254 Whitehorse
#229 Surrey
#32 Agassiz
#170 Castlegar
#229 Surrey (LA)
#4 Chilliwack
#49 Parksville
#92 Salt Spring Island
#52 Kamloops
#94 Quesnel
#134 Shawnigan Lake
#17 Courtenay
#142 Vancouver
#171 Ladysmith
#16 Vancouver
#177 Mount Pleasant
#192 Keremeos
#102 Fort St. John
#21 Langley (LA)
#280 Chilliwack
#227 Okanagan Falls
And
of course the Legion Foundation
This is a exemplary program of which only those who work hard
and accomplish the goals as laid out in the program will reap
the rewards and this committee hopes that more Branches will
take an interest and help our youth of BC/Yukon Command excel
at all levels to become better citizens and future leaders
of Canada.
Cadet
Programs
The
Legion is a major supporter of Sea, Army and Air Cadets, with
some 600 branches involved. A few of the cadet programs that
the Legion is involved in are outlined below:
Cadet
Medal of Excellence
Commanding Officers of all Cadet Corps/Squadrons have the
relevant information from the National Defence Headquarters
and are provided with a list of the criteria that must be
met. Unless Commanding Officers institute action to identify
suitable candidates, Branches are unable to become involved.
The Commanding Officer makes the initial action.
The basic requirements are as follows:
-Each
Cadet Corps/Squadron is eligible for participation.
-There is one Cadet medal per Corps/Squadron per training
year.
-The Commanding Officer of the Corps/Squadron is the approving
authority but Commanding Officers have been encouraged by
DND to seek active participation of Legion authorities in
the selection process if feasible.
-Awarding of the Medal is optional, being based solely upon
the existence of a suitable Cadet candidate deemed worthy
to be a recipient.
-The criteria are based on an authorized national standard
so that the prestige and significance is maintained and identified
across Canada.
-The Medal may be awarded only once to any person.
When a suitable candidate is identified, the Corps/Squadron
Commanding Officer must contact the Area Cadet Officer. Following
approval of the recommendation, the Area Cadet Officer provides
BC/Yukon Command with a list of recipients. BC/Yukon Command
advises the Branches and the Branch then orders the medal
from the Dominion Command supply department who ships the
cadet medals/certificates to the Branch for presentation.
In
BC/Yukon Command gaming monies can be used to purchase the
Cadet Medals of Excellence.
Deadline date for notification by Corps/Squadron Commanding
Officers to the Area Cadet officer is 15 April.
Cadet
Biathlon
The Legion continues to support the sport of biathlon, where
cross-country skiing and shooting are combined. This has been
adopted by a number of cadet corps and competitions take place
at the local, provincial and national levels. As a result
of the cooperation between the Legion and both Biathlon Canada
and the Cadets, the Legion has provided competition equipment.
Boy
Scouts and Girl Guides of Canada
The
Legion is one of the largest single supporters of Boy Scouts,
Girl Guides and related youth groups in Canada. For example,
local branches sponsor over 200 boy scout groups representing
more than 10, 000 youth. An additional 200 branches indirectly
provide material and other support to groups in their community.
The
Boy Scouts of Canada's national council has recognized the
Legion for is cooperation in support of scouting, particularly
at the branch level, over the 50 years.
The
Boy Scouts and Girl Guides of Canada are directly involved
with Legion branches throughout the year. The Legion especially
appreciates the participation of scout and guide groups in
events such as the annual Remembrance Day ceremony and local
parades.
Over
the years, The Royal Canadian Legion has provided approximately
$4,000,000 to Boy Scouts, Girl Guides and related groups.
Minor
Sports
Sport
for all age groups of Canada's youth is a significant aspect
of Legion community programs: hockey teams and/or leagues
in over 800 branches; baseball in over 850 branches; and softball
in over 700 branches. These are the main sports in the Legion
youth program. On a smaller scale they also sponsor lacrosse,
boxing, soccer, swimming and judo.
Linking
seniors and youth to learn new technology
Generations
CanConnect, a new Connecting Canadians initiative, introduces
a new and exciting way of linking seniors with youth across
Canada, one on one, in a dialogue that allows seniors to share
their stories and experiences. Through this partnership youth
will explore, record and celebrate seniors' contribution to
their country and their communities using the power of the
Information Highway.
Under
the supervision of a project leader, youth will interview
seniors and will write 150 - 250 word profiles about a treasured
object or a memorable event in the lives of seniors. Thereafter,
youth will produce a web site incorporating these stories
with images, which will become part of a searchable digital
archive of seniors' memories, personal treasures and experiences
accessible to all through the Generations CanConnect
web site.
Generations
CanConnect will help Canadian seniors to be models and
mentors to young Canadians while developing their own knowledge
and skills in using the Information Highway. This initiative
rewards both youth and seniors with the opportunity to develop
technical skills. This initiative introduces a variety of
curriculum-based activities and sets the stage for a genuine
learning experience within the context of the community. Take
advantage of the numerous benefits offered by Generations
CanConnect and let's all get connected the Information
Highway!
For
further information, contact:
Telephone: 1-800-575-9200
E-mail:generations.canconnect@ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://generations-canconnect.ic.gc.ca
