The mission of The Royal Canadian Legion is “to serve Veterans and their dependants, to promote Remembrance, and to act in the service of Canada and its communities.” In essence, the purposes and objectives of the Legion were born of the need to further the spirit of comradeship and mutual assistance among all who have served and to never forget the deeds of the fallen. It is paramount that the Legion strives to pass on these goals and traditions to the families and descendants of our ex-service personnel and to raise this awareness among all Canadians.

The major source of funding for the Legion to accomplish this most important work is the annual Poppy Campaign, the foundation of our Remembrance Program. It is the generosity of Canadians that enables the Legion to ensure that our veterans and their dependants are cared for and treated with the respect that they deserve. This November campaign, which sees Poppies distributed to Canadians of all ages, serves to perpetuate Remembrance by ensuring that the memory and sacrifices of our war veterans are never forgotten.

The Legion also maintains a leading role in the creation and care of memorials to the contributions and valour of our veterans and ex-service members. We are deeply honoured and proud to accept the task of organizing Remembrance ceremonies throughout the country, including the National Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa. In addition, working in concert with other veterans’ organizations and the Canadian government, the Legion has vowed to ensure that the preservation of the records and memories of our fallen heroes and returning veterans continues in perpetuity.

The Royal Canadian Legion was honoured to initiate and coordinate the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for the Centennial in 2000 and to suggest the declaration of 2005 as The Year of the Veteran. These and other commemorative projects and activities led by The Royal Canadian Legion have been welcomed by Canadians who have never hesitated to demonstrate their support in acknowledging the debt that is owed to those who sacrifice so much. We repay this debt in our “Remembrance.”

 

History of the Branch

Some 43 years ago, a small group of Veterans and Legionnaires made it their intent to form a Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion in the Don Mills area.   They held their first meeting at Fenside Public School with a large turnout of area residents to support an application for a charter in the Royal Canadian Legion as the Don Mills Branch 617.  

That was in 1968, and for the first year the Branch was operated out of members homes until they managed to rent the lower level of 1750 Victoria Park Avenue.  In 1986 the members pooled their funds and obtained a large mortgage to acquire an old warehouse/garage at 937 Warden Avenue. 

 

 

We have since renovated into cozy facilities that have been enjoyed by our members ever since.  We are now called the Dambusters Branch 617;  the name Dambusters comes from the elite WWII Lancaster Bomber squadron and their assault on the dams of the Ruhr.

We take much pride in being named after these brave men.  Today, the elected  Executives continue to strive to make the branch a place where any Veteran, senior citizen, man or woman, can come and feel the comradeship that has maintained the branch through its 43 years of operation.

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