Branch88 Admin - Maple Ridge Royal Canadian Legion

Meet the Executive – Dean McPherson

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.

Meet the Executive – Lynda McEwan

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.

St Patrick’s Celebration

Meet a Veteran – John Vanderelst

John has been a member of the Royal Canadian Legion since 1988 when he joined the Dominion Command Legion 003 in Germany. He is the Service Officer for the Maple Ridge Legion, and has served in this position for the last 12 years.

John’s first exposure to the military was 2 years of compulsory cadet service in his early teens in his hometown in Ontario. This program originated in WWI and was terminated in the schools in the mid 1960’s.

He later joined the Canadian Armed Forces Infantry (1 PPCLI) in 1971. He completed basic training in Gagetown NB, and then served for 15 years based in Calgary AB. He was Infantry for the first 6 years, then spent the next 26 years in Logistics Finance. After this he spent a further 6 years in the Army Reserves working in finance with the Cadets in Vernon BC summer program.

During his long career he spent time with NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), and spent 6 months in the Middle East. He was stationed at a radar base in Sioux Lookout, Northern Ontario, and then in Geilenkirchen, Germany from 1987-1990.

He retired in Vancouver BC (rank of Warrant Officer). He likes to dabble in the Stock Market, listen to audio books, and play Euchre, where he says his teammates are very kind to him and let him ‘cheat’ due to his failing eyesight.