Need a lift? Barrie legion installs new elevator thanks to grant funding

Things are looking up at the Barrie legion.

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 147 officials gathered Monday afternoon to celebrate the addition of a new elevator to the St. Vincent Street building, thanks to a $143,200 capital grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).

The new elevator has replaced the existing two-floor elevator at the branch, which was more than 35 years old and had been experiencing intermittent outages. This affected the use and rental for events and dinners on the second floor's Main Banquet Hall, as the elevator is the only source of access tor handicap guests visiting the branch.

“Legions need help. Many branches are struggling, especially after COVID,” said member David Mills, adding more than 60 branches across the country have closed in recent years. “It’s a good year for the legion financially if you break even and a lot of legions are not breaking even.

"There's little capacity within the legion budgets to have anything added such as replacements of things … so the funds the Ontario Trillium Foundation has provided us has allowed the branch to make significant improvements … including the addition of the new elevator," he added. 

Mills called the OTF funding a "lifeline,” adding that without it the branch would likely no longer exist.

“The lifeline is so much appreciated,” he said.

As a relatively new member, Mills, along with fellow member Paul Marley, saw the need for additional funding and have been working on getting money through grants to help enhance the branch’s operations. 

To date, those projects have included much-needed upgrades to the building, such as new flooring on the main level, new technology, a ramp, exterior awning, glass security doors in the main entry, as well as a new boiler and air conditioner. And now you can also add the elevator.

Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey, who is a member of the branch, credited legion officials for their successful efforts in getting the grants over the last few years. 

“Most people don't know how complicated the grant writing can be and how daunting a task it can be, but it really is something that you guys have done well,” Downey said. “You are not just sort of a thing in the community. You are the community and that's why people come here. I'm thrilled about this third instalment being the elevator and (for people) to be able to use the whole building.”

“Legions are definitely growing as organizations, so I am very thankful to the foundation very much,” said Chuck Arrand, who serves as the zone commander for local legions.

“Having a new elevator guarantees that everyone can access the entire building and that Is quite important and a milestone to be achieved,” he added.