Legion donates $1,000 to support CMJHS trip to eastern Canada
By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 10 Strathmore made a $1,000 donation to Crowther Memorial Junior High school to help fund the upcoming student trip to eastern Canada.
Students will be journeying to Ontario and Quebec to visit the federal parliament building in Ottawa, the legislature in Quebec, the City of Kensington, Niagara Falls, and several other important historical sites.
“This is a common practice in schools all over Canada. I can’t stress how important it is because it is helping our young people understand their country, visit their country, and most importantly, going to their nation’s capital,” said Donovan Arnaud, legion president. “It is absolutely fundamental. The only thing wrong with our country is its geography. There is too much geography and you commonly run into people who criticize. We here in Alberta, you hear it all the time, ‘these eastern (people) and all these eastern this and this eastern that,’ and of course it is the same thing in eastern Canada.”
Arnaud added for many, if they are asked whether they have seen the opposite side of the country, they have not bothered to do so.
He said travelling in order to develop a deeper understanding of and respect for the country and its people is the whole principle of supporting endeavors such as these school trips.
“When they get an opportunity to travel in Canada, that opens their eyes and opens their minds and it makes better citizens of them in the future,” said Arnaud. “Any kid who comes back and says that was a waste of time, obviously they fell asleep on the bus and then never got off. I am very safe in saying every kid will tell you it was very worthwhile, and their parents will also say that as well – at least I hope so.”
Major Ron Urbaniak (retired) made the presentation at the Strathmore Legion branch to student representative Ellie Brough, April 17.
Arnaud explained as the Legion continues to recover from COVID-19 and expand its programming and capacity for fundraising, he would ideally like to see the donation for the student trip grow in future years.
This donation is automatically budgeted for by the Legion annually, assuming the continued financial ability to do so. Additionally, if the donation is able to be increased, that discussion is also tabled by Legion members.
“We get a lot of requests from a lot of different people and groups about supporting them, but this particular group going to Ottawa is one of the priorities that we have in our program,” said Arnaud.
Students from Crowther Memorial Junior High School will be journeying to eastern Canada in June near the conclusion of their educational year.