Background

Message from Barney Danson and Gilles Lamontagne

Legion Hosting Ideas

Mt. Pleasant Legion Project

Many Legion members have had personal experience of landmines and know them to be a vicious weapon. Canada has not used landmines since Korea. The indiscriminate use in the 1960's and after has resulted in a situation where 80% of landmine victims are civilians; 30% to 50% of those are children.

Dominion Command of The Royal Canadian Legion established a policy on landmines that said, in part " The Legion fully endorses the efforts of the various humanitarian organisations in their efforts to clear those areas which have been contaminated with mines and other hazardous explosives and which have taken a disastrous toll on various civilian populations."

Support received from Legion Branches has assisted in the clearance of a minefield in Bosnia in memory of Lieutenant-General Gordon Reay; a minefield in Croatia in memory of Master Corporal Mark Isfeld (Legion magazine, September/October 2003); and a project which has cleared 120,000 square metres outside Kabul in recognition of the 3rd Battalion Group, Royal Canadian Regiment.

We launched this initiative following the tragic accident in October 2003 that killed Sergeant Short and Corporal Beerenfenger and injured Master Corporal Hamilton, Corporal Stirling, and Corporal Laidlaw. A considerable number of Canadians participated in fundraising for this projects including Legion branches and the soldiers serving at Camp Julien. In December 03, supported by hockey stars Tiger Williams, Kirk McLean, and Cassie Campbell, with memorabilia donated by the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Ottawa Senators, and the Vancouver Canucks, Canadian troops mounted a morale-boosting event called "Hockey night in Afghanistan". Proceeds from this event were donated to us for this Peacekeepers Demining Fund project. As we said in a statement that was read on our behalf at a ceremony in Kabul earlier this year, "It is our hope that we will be in a position to continuously clear landmines in areas where Canadian soldiers are serving. It is also our hope that this work reminds Canadians of your service and reminds you of our gratitude."

While many Legion branches do not have the resources to make large donations, there is an easy way in which Legion members can participate: Night of A Thousand Dinners. Night of a Thousand Dinners (N1KD) began as an opportunity for people all over the world to come together on a single night, enjoy a meal and help solve the global landmine crisis. One individual would host a simple dinner in their homes and invite their friends and neighbours. Instead of the friends and neighbours bringing wine, flowers, or dessert they would bring a donation. All it takes is one person.

Now many branches are organizing events collectively as a way to reach out to the broader community and to demonstrate that they continue to have a commitment to peace and a safer world. Events have been held in Legion halls or in private homes. Through this activity we invite people to join together in one of the world's oldest rituals - breaking bread together. It is a tremendous opportunity for fellowship and to promote peace. For even though the war may have been declared over years before, peace has not yet come to the people of the land. For the people, the war continues because this weapon has not been told to stop.

We encourage you to join with us this year. For registration, click here. In the registration process you may select The Royal Canadian Legion.