A New, Smaller Building for the Legion

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7w9oxz The building that houses the Châteauguay Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion will disappear from the decor of Gilmour Street after 76 years and make room for a new, smaller building with the same mission. Translation courtesy Amanda Bennett The current building, which was constructed in 1944, is now outdated. “The roof leaks, the heating system needs to be replaced, the floors need to be redone”, relayed Frank Cholette, Branch President. Given that the place was built by adding on new sections over time and that taking down walls often leads to surprises, renovating the building in full compliance with the current standards would have been too expensive, he emphasized. Nevertheless, this meeting place and support centre for veterans is replete with history, asserted Mr. Cholette. The Legion is planning a commemorative ceremony on Saturday, October 3rd as the dismantling is set to begin. Land Sold The non-profit organization sold two thirds of the land it owned on Gilmour Street to raise the capital to be able to build the new structure. “We are working with a contractor. Unfortunately, there have been some unforeseen circumstances. The costs for the services of an architect and engineer were more than we had anticipated. We negotiated with the contractor to create a smaller building,” Frank Cholette explained. The proposed building will be 2400 square feet as opposed to the current 5700. To reduce costs, materials and items from the previous building such as bathroom equipment and fixtures will be kept and integrated within the new building. “We’ll stretch our resources as much as we possibly can", ensured Frank Cholette. The Legion is paying for the entirety of the bill. "We have not received funding of any kind", the President noted. The proceeds from the sale of a portion of the lot will not, however, pay for the whole project. The organization intends to hold fundraising activities to help defray the balance of the costs. Donations in the form of materials, money and labour are also welcome. Those interested in contributing can reach Mr. Cholette at 514-754-6770.   Cenotaphe The Cenotaphe that is currently on the site will be demolished and buried under the new complex. "It’s like an iceberg; it is as large beneath the ground as it is above. It was too heavy. The crane could not move it so it was impossible to place it elsewhere," explained Mr. Cholette. Mission The Châteauguay Legion has 105 members. "Our organization is doing well. We hope to be able to continue to serve our older veterans, but also to be better known among veterans of more recent wars who might be in need of our services. We are well-rooted in our community and we will continue to play our role", stated Mr. Cholette, himself a Navy veteran who served in Europe with NATO forces during the Cold War. The movement that was created following the Second World War now has 1390 branches across the country.