Red Deer Branch No. 35 Named 2024 Branch of the Year
The Red Deer Branch No. 35 has been awarded the 2024 Branch of the Year Award, a recognition of exceptional service, leadership, and community engagement. Introduced this year by the Alberta-NWT Command of the Royal Canadian Legion, the award will be presented annually to honour a branch that exemplifies dedication to Veterans, members, and the wider community.
Red Deer Branch No. 35 stood out among its peers with a compelling and comprehensive submission. The branch reported robust membership numbers in 2024, including 276 Veterans, 20 Life Members, 531 Associates, 429 Voting Affiliates, and 8 Non-Voting Affiliates.
Highlights of the branch’s accomplishments include providing 17 bursaries to support the families of Veterans, funding medical equipment for local hospices, and delivering mobility aids to enhance Veterans’ independence. Their outreach extended to youth through school visits, support for cadet programs, and sponsorship of the Desormeau U18 Curling Team.
The city’s mayor publicly commended the branch for its impactful Remembrance initiatives. Accepting the award on behalf of the branch was President Art Burgess, who emphasized their guiding philosophy: “We are more than a branch — we are a family that takes care of its own.”
As the 2024 recipient, Red Deer Branch No. 35 received a $1,000 prize, a commemorative plaque, and year-long bragging rights.
Branch of the Year 2024, Red Deer Branch No. 35, at the Convention. President Art Burgess (backrow, third from left) accepted the award on behalf of the branch.
David Stattler Receives Inaugural Hugh Greene Memorial Award
The Alberta-NWT Command has named Comrade David Stattler of Innisfail Branch No. 104 as the first recipient of the Hugh Greene Memorial Award for Branch Service Officer, presented at the 53rd Provincial Convention of the Alberta-NWT Command.
Established to honour the enduring legacy of Comrade Hugh Greene — a Veteran, Legion leader, and lifelong advocate for service — this award recognizes outstanding Branch Service Officers whose work exemplifies compassion, dedication, and meaningful impact in the lives of Veterans and their families.
Comrade Stattler’s nomination stood out for his deep commitment to holistic care, connecting Veterans with critical supports and offering comfort that extended beyond physical needs. Backed by commendations from Veterans and peers, his service reflects the very ideals that Hugh Greene championed throughout his 101 years of life and leadership. Comrade Stattler was unable to attend the Convention. Innisfail Branch No. 104 President Lester Nickel accepted the award in his place.
This inaugural award marks a new chapter in celebrating the vital, and sometimes unsung, role of the Branch Service Officer within the Legion community.
Innisfail Branch No. 104 President Lester Nickel presenting Comrade David Stattler (right) with the Hugh Greene Memorial Award for Branch Service Officer at the branch.
