President's Corner

Welcome to 2026! What an exciting year this is going to be. 

This year marks the Royal Canadian Legion’s 100th anniversary; 100 years of serving veterans, their families and the community. On January 18th, it also marks the 75th anniversary of our own branch. I’m told there are plans in place for some festivities this year to celebrate both these events, so stay tuned.

I am honoured to be the President of this branch, “The best little branch in the prairies”, so I’ve been told. And it’s true. Our membership continues to grow, and we now have over 600 members who share the same values of what the Legion stands for. Incredible!!! We have so many amazing people here who are engaged and passionate about what we do.

This year, I have the privilege of working with a dedicated team of individuals who make up the Executive Committee. There is a tremendous mix of experience and skills on this team, and I have no doubt we will accomplish good things this year. 

Speaking of doing good things, according to the ancient Chinese zodiac, 2026 is the year of the Horse. Horses represent strength, endurance, prosperity, and good fortune, symbolizing vitality and, with it, bringing momentum for change, forward motion, and opportunities for learning and growth. This seems very fitting for us this year. 

Over the coming months, the Executive Committee will be reviewing the operations of the branch to determine what we are doing well and where we can make improvements. We want to make sure every role and event has clear instructions. This way, anyone can step in confidently without feeling overwhelmed. This means there will be more opportunities for members to volunteer to take on various roles throughout the year. The work we are going to do now will provide long-term stability and growth for our branch in the coming years. These changes are not going to be done immediately or without input from members of the branch. To that end, our next General meeting is on January 20, at 7:00 PM – please join us to share your ideas and help shape our branch’s future. This is your branch, so why not have a say in what goes on?

Sincerely,

Robert Stumbur

President

Stony Plain Legion, #256