Legion looks for money as closure looms

The Canadian Legion branch on Kensington Road in the city's northwest is struggling to stay open as membership declines and costs rise.

At an emergency meeting Monday night that drew hundreds of members, a motion was passed to ask the Alberta-NWT Command for an interest-free loan of $30,000 to keep the branch afloat.

Without the cash infusion, the branch — Canada's largest with over 3,000 members — might have to close, officials said.

"And it would be unfortunate because it means that the members that are at this … legion would not have any place else to go that's local," said member Larry Costen.

"And for a lot of them getting older, it's more difficult for them to travel. And to me that's important, to make sure that we keep this open."