Month: March 2024

Don is a longtime member of the Royal Canadian Legion, first joining in 1973 while stationed in Winnipeg Manitoba. He was a member of the Army Reserves in 1970 while in High School in Hamilton Ontario.  

He joined the Regular Force in 1972 after High School Graduation as a Mobile Support Equipment Operator (MSE Op). During his time serving he had postings CFB Winnipeg Manitoba, UNEFII Ismailia Egypt, 4 Service Battalion S&T Company Lahr Germany, CFB Detachment Vancouver & 12 Service Battalion, 4 Service Battalion S&T Company Lahr Germany and CFB Chilliwack. He retired in 1993.

He comes from a Service Family. His Grandfather was in WW1 with the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force and he fought in the Battle for Vimy Ridge. His Dad was with the West Nova Scotia Highlanders in WW2 and was part of the forces that landed in Normandy. His Dad was wounded in action while fighting in Belgium. 

Don was a member of the Legion in Winnipeg, Lahr Germany and Vancouver. Don rejoined RCL Branch 88 in 2018. He also joined the Colour Party and Honour Guard. He was appointed Sergeant at Arms of the Maple Ridge Legion in 2023. 

Don Officially Retired as a Professional Driver in 2022 after 52 yeas. Now that he is Retired, he likes to Read, Travel, Hike and Swim. 

Who else is on our 2024 Executive? Find out here.

Jodi originally joined the Royal Canadian Legion at the age of eighteen, in Baron Bing, Toronto. She moved to B.C. and joined the Billy Bishop branch in Kitsilano. She left for a while and was busy with life, then rejoined the Maple Ridge branch around five years ago.

Jodi’s grandfather is a veteran and a long time member of the RCL, he was the inspiration for her to join at a young age. Her father in law was also a veteran and was a prisoner of war in North Africa during the Second World War.

She is on the Membership Committee with Lynda McEwan, and is the Co-Chair of the Finance Committee with John Yoxall. Prior to joining the Executive this year, Jodi was a very active member of the Ladies Auxiliary.

Her vision for our branch this year is to get back to basics with proper operational management, using resources that we have in the expertise of legion membership. She would like to see an expanding relationship between all members of different ages and services.

She is a business owner, and likes to read in her (very limited) spare time. She is also a busy proud hockey and baseball mom!

Who else is on our 2024 Executive? Find out here.

James first joined the Royal Canadian Legion in 1976 in North Vancouver, moved to Port Moody in 1998, and then to Maple Ridge in 2014. As a member of the Port Moody Branch, he was a member of the Executive at Large, and in charge of Awards. He is a proud member of the Colour Party and has taken part in Honour Guards at the Celebration of Life for veterans who have passed away.

James joined the Air Cadets at the age of 12, and then at 16 in 1971, joined the Canadian Armed Forces Army Reserves. He was a Master Corporal in the Engineers.

He served in North Vancouver and spent 4 months in Germany, and also worked with the American Engineers in Fort Lewis, Washington. During his time with the Engineers, he travelled to Wainwright Alberta multiple times to train with other branches of the Canadian Armed Forces. James was also a member of the RCMP Auxiliary in Coquitlam from 1992-2005.

Who else is on our 2024 Executive? Find out here.

Dean joined the Royal Canadian Legion in Maple Ridge in 2008.  He became the First Vice President in December of last year (2023) and will serve a two year term.

He is a Veteran, having joined the Canadian Armed Forces (Army) in 1983 as a Radio Operator (Sigs 211). During his time in the military he was posted to: Penhold, Shilo, Calgary, Aldergrove, and Kingston. He as well had tours to Israel, Syria, and Croatia (during the war in the former Yugoslavia). He retired in 2004 after having made lifelong friendships that remain to this day.

His primary goal as a Veteran, and now part of the Executive Committee,  is to make Veterans - and support of all Veterans the main focus of his term as 1VP.  He would like to encourage all people in the community to become members so they can enjoy all that our Legion has to offer. As the largest Legion there is something for everyone, and he would like to encourage younger people, especially younger veterans, to join so they can  access the supports that the Legion has to offer. He hopes to promote that the Legion is a place where veterans and non-veterans can come to spend time, and to find camaraderie and support.

In his spare time he likes to ride his Harley Davidson motorcycle, and to spend time with his family that includes, two of his children that live in the area,  (aged 20 and 23) who are also proud Legion members.

Who else is on our 2024 Executive? Find out here.

Lynda joined the Legion in 1997 and a year later transferred to Br. 88. She volunteered on a couple of Committees before being elected to the Executive in 2004. She served as chair for many different Committees before being elected as 2nd Vice-President, 1st Vice-President, and then President.

In 2014 she was elected to the N.W. & Dist. Zone as Deputy Zone Commander and served at that position for 3 years, followed by Secretary/Treasurer for another year. She then returned to the Branch, again serving on various committees, most recently as Membership Chair. She currently holds positions as Constitution and Bylaws Chair and Recording Secretary. In 2012 she was honoured to receive her Life Membership from Branch 88.

Lynda is the daughter of a Veteran (Army), the wife of a Veteran (Airforce) and the mother of a Veteran (Navy). She has been a volunteer for various organizations since she was sixteen. She enjoys, cooking, crafting, golf, curling and travel.

Who else is on our 2024 Executive? Find out here.