Our 2025 Executive
Front row - Service Officer, John Vanderelst; Branch Administrator, Kathy Gallagher; Recording, Elaine MacDonell; President, Al Casswell; 1st Vice President, Jon Yoxall; 2nd Vice President, Darryl Hildebrandt
Back row - Sergeant at Arms, Don Purdy; Executive Members, Mark Cannon; Marilyn Wokatsch, Shari Gillies, Ron Lyman, Liz Chichka
Meet the Executive
Al first joined the Legion in the late 70’s. He has been a member of Branch 88 since 1994 and received the Life Membership Award in 2017.
He is currently the President, and in the past has held all positions on the Executive Committee and various positions at the Zone level.
Al is a veteran, his military service was 1968-1971 in the Royal Canadian Navy.
His vision for the future of our Legion is that he would like to see some of our many new members sign-up as volunteers, as it seems that we rely on the same people year after year.
John first joined the Royal Canadian Legion in Maple Ridge in 2009 and became the First Vice President in May 2024.
He has been a member of the Colour Party for Remembrance Day and many other occasions for several years, and has lead the Honour Guard at the Celebration of Life for many veterans.
He is a Veteran, and served in the British Army as a Metalsmith in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) for 12 years, after joining as a boy soldier at the age of 16. During his time in the military he was posted to Norway, Northern Ireland, Canada, Cyprus and several army bases in Germany.
His goal for our Legion is to make Veterans and their families the main focus, and to help support younger Veterans in particular. He would like to raise awareness of Operational Stress Injury, in particular Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and how that affects many Veterans both young and old. He would like to encourage more people to join the Legion and to volunteer.
In his spare time he tries to get in his 10,000 steps a day and once he retires would like to travel. He has been known to frequent the Legion Lounge.
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.
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.
Meet the Executive
Al first joined the Legion in the late 70’s. He has been a member of Branch 88 since 1994 and received the Life Membership Award in 2017.
He is currently the President and in the past has held all positions on the Executive Committee and various positions at the Zone level.
Al is a veteran, his military service was 1968-1971 in the Royal Canadian Navy.
His vision for the future of our Legion is that he would like to see some of our many new members sign-up as volunteers, as it seems that we rely on the same people year after year.
John first joined the Royal Canadian Legion in Maple Ridge in 2009 and became the First Vice President in May 2024.
He has been a member of the Colour Party for Remembrance Day and many other occasions for several years, and has lead the Honour Guard at the Celebration of Life for many veterans.
He is a Veteran, and served in the British Army as a Metalsmith in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) for 12 years, after joining as a boy soldier at the age of 16. During his time in the military he was posted to Norway, Northern Ireland, Canada, Cyprus and several army bases in Germany.
His goal for our Legion is to make Veterans and their families the main focus, and to help support younger Veterans in particular. He would like to raise awareness of Operational Stress Injury, in particular Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and how that affects many Veterans both young and old. He would like to encourage more people to join the Legion and to volunteer.
In his spare time he tries to get in his 10,000 steps a day and once he retires would like to travel. He has been known to frequent the Legion Lounge.
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.
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.
