Monthly Archives: February 2024

Lost and found: High-flying CP warco survives shoot down

An item from the Legion Magazine.


Front Lines
Front Lines

The Sept. 21, 1944, message from SHAEF informing The Canadian Press that Charlie Bruce’s plane was overdue. [CP]

Lost and found: High-flying CP warco survives shoot down

STORY BY STEPHEN J. THORNE

The army message, marked CONFIDENTIAL, arrived in the London bureau of The Canadian Press shortly after lunch on Sept. 21, 1944.

It bore troubling news from General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force: a plane carrying the superintendent of the wire service’s overseas operations, Charlie Bruce, was 18 hours overdue.

Bruce had been covering a resupply mission over the German-occupied Netherlands during the Allies’ ill-fated attempt to bring the war to an early end—an airborne invasion called Operation Market Garden, later to be memorialized in the star-studded 1977 Hollywood film A Bridge Too Far.

READ MORE

RCAF 100
Military Milestones
Military Milestones

The Silver Dart in flight. [Wikimedia]

The Silver Dart: Canada’s first successful plane and the RCAF

STORY BY PAIGE JASMINE GILMAR

On Feb. 23, 1909, the Royal Canadian Air Force’s pathway to the stars first began to take shape; the first flight of a powered, heavier-than-air, controlled airplane in Canada—the Silver Dart—was a success. Marking its 115th anniversary this year, the Silver Dart held the promise of a new future for Canada’s military: the possibility of an air force.

In 1907, Alexander Graham Bell, along with engineers J.A.D. (Douglas) McCurdy and Frederick Baldwin and two Americans, formed the Aerial Experiment Association with the financial support of Bell’s wife, Mabel. Their goal was “to get a man into the air.” Two years later, one of their creations was ready.

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Rebuilding bodies after WW I

Military Milestones

COURTESY OF GOOSE LANE EDITIONS

Rebuilding bodies after WW I

STORY BY KRISTEN DEN HARTOG

This exclusive excerpt from the new book The Roosting Box: Rebuilding the Body After the First World War by Kristen den Hartog explores some of the fascinating work of Toronto’s Christie Street Hospital in supporting wounded Canadian veterans after the conflict. Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Goose Lane Editions.

The roof ward was one of the marvels of the Christie Street Hospital, and came under the direction of a young doctor named Robert Inkerman Harris, who arrived at the facility with a gaggle of “war wrecks” wasting away from tuberculosis. Harris had suffered from tuberculosis as a child, and that old memory apparently fuelled his curiosity about the disease.

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Member Benefit Partner

Belair

Join Dominion President Bruce Juliahttps://bstvacations.ca/royal-canadian-legion-cruise/n and Darlene Julian, BST Vacations, and Royal Canadian Legion members from across Canada on an Ultimate Southern Caribbean Cruise on the innovative Celebrity Silhouette. This 10-night cruise will be sailing to St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Tobago, Grenada, & Antigua, includes 4 glorious days at sea, and 1 night pre-cruise in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Discover amazing enhancements at every turn. You’ll relax in transformed staterooms that are so gorgeous, you may never want to leave your room!

Big news from former director Bloemraad; Can photos save the planet?

A newsletter from one of our fellow Canadian organizations in the Bay Area.


Canadian Studies Announcements

In This Issue:

Program News

  • Former director Irene Bloemraad to join the University of British Columbia
  • Save the date: the Big Give is March 14!

Upcoming Events

  • Conference on Proto-Algonquian
  • Come from Away: Newfoundland and Labrador’s Food Security Dilemma

External Events

  • Modest Livelihood with a Live Score by eagles with eyes closed
  • Seeing It All: Changing the World One Photo at a Time

Irene Bloemraad Appointed President’s Chair in Migration at the University of British Columbia

It is with very mixed emotions that the Canadian Studies Program announces that former program director Irene Bloemraad will be leaving Berkeley at the end of the current academic year. Professor Bloemraad has accepted a new position at the University of British Columbia. As recently announced by UBC, she has been appointed President’s Excellence Chair in Global Migration, beginning July 1, 2024.

While we are happy for Irene and the opportunities that this new position offers her, her departure will leave a hole in our Canadian Studies community here at Berkeley. Professor Bloemraad directed the Canadian Studies Program for ten years, ending her directorship just last year. During that time, she played a critical role in stabilizing and growing the Program. She oversaw a broad restructuring of the Program’s governance and finances, and implemented numerous community partnerships that continue to bear fruit today. In addition to her academic and organizational talents, she is a personal friend to many in our community, and we will miss seeing her around campus.

At UBC, Dr. Bloemraad will hold appointments in the Departments of Political Science and Sociology. She will also serve as the co-director of the Centre of Migration Studies in the Faculty of Arts and will continue to co-direct the Boundaries, Membership and Belonging program of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, a Canada-based global research organization.

Canadian Studies would like to thank Professor Bloemraad for her service not just to the Program, but to Berkeley as a whole. While we are certainly sad that she is leaving, we know that she will remain a committed friend. We look forward to working with her to build connections with UBC and develop further avenues for collaboration. We hope that you will join us in wishing her well in her new position!

Save the Date: The Big Give is March 14!

It’s that time of year again! On March 14, join our community in showing support for Canadian Studies by making a gift during the Big Give, Berkeley’s annual day of giving. Canadian Studies is a donor-supported program, and your donation goes directly to support education and research about Canada. We’ll follow up with additional information on how you can multiply the impact of a gift of any size. Until then, mark your calendars – we hope to see you on March 14!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Conference on Proto-Algonquian

Saturday, March 2 | 9:30 am – 4:00 pm | 223 Philosophy Hall | RSVP

The Canadian Studies Program invites you to a one-day conference honoring the late David Pentland on the occasion of the posthumous publication of his Proto-Algonquian Dictionary. The conference will bring together scholars from across the United States and Canada to celebrate this significant milestone in Algonquian scholarship, and to celebrate Dr. Pentland’s life and career as a prominent scholar in the field of Algonquian studies.

Ever since Leonard Bloomfield published his groundbreaking 1946 sketch outlining the sound system and basic morphology of Proto-Algonquian, refinements of the details of sound change and the reconstruction of Proto-Algonquian has been a central part of Algonquian linguistics. But the close similarities among most of the languages has led to a plethora of proposed reconstructions that are often not fully consistent with one another. Pentland’s dictionary has been a long-awaited step forward, bringing a new level of rigor and consistency to the field. It will also be a springboard to a range of new questions about methodology, classification, and borrowing. And we cannot discount the window on Algonquian culture such a comprehensive work provides. Speakers at the conference will address these questions and more.

Details about the conference, including the speaker schedule, are available on our website. The conference is at no cost, but attendees must register by emailing canada@berkeley.edu.

Come from Away: Newfoundland and Labrador’s Food Security Dilemma

Tues., March 12 | 12:30 PM | 223 Philosophy Hall | RSVP

This presentation illuminates past and current complexities of Newfoundland and Labrador’s unique food system. Following confederation with Canada in 1949, the province’s once-abundant fisheries fed North America to the point of over-exploitation, creating both cultural and food system disruption. Currently, most food is imported into the province and transported by ferry, including produce from California’s Central Valley. Though hunting is prevalent in rural communities, high priced, pre-packaged, and processed food, rather than fish, are the dietary mainstay. Recent efforts to expand agricultural production within the province would improve local control over the food system. This would ostensibly be more expensive than most imported foods, given the province’s short growing season and relatively small, diffusely located population. Yet financially supporting such endeavors might be justifiable to facilitate a basic human right to access and produce food.

Note: The speaker will also share Newfoundland and Labrador artwork and handicrafts at the in-person presentation.

About the Speaker

Dr. Catherine Keske is a professor of management of complex systems in the School of Engineering at UC Merced. She is an agricultural economist and social scientist who studies sustainable food, energy, and waste systems. Prior to joining UC Merced in 2017, she was associate professor of environmental studies (economics) in the School of Science and the Environment at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Her research on food security and Newfoundland and Labrador includes an edited book, Food Futures: Growing a Sustainable Food System for Newfoundland and Labrador, and “Economic feasibility of biochar and agriculture coproduction from Canadian black spruce forest” published in Food and Energy Security.

If you require an accommodation to fully participate in an event, please let us know at least 7 days in advance.

EXTERNAL EVENTS

Modest Livelihood with a Live Score by eagles with eyes closed

Wed., Feb. 21 | 7:30 pm | BAMPFA | Buy tickets

A screening of the silent film Modest Livelihood, by Cree artist Duane Linklater (pictured left) and Brian Jungen, is accompanied by a new score performed by a trio of UC Berkeley student musicians. The score is written by eagles with eyes closed, a musical project consisting of Duane Linklater and Tobias Linklater, exploring the generative experience of watching films together as intergenerational collaborators, father and son, and two Indigenous artists. The screening will close out the exhibit Duane Linklater: mymothersside, which ends tomorrow. Space is limited, and tickets are required.

Seeing It All: Changing the World One Photo at a Time

Wed., Feb. 28 | 5:30 pm | San Francisco | Buy tickets

The Commonwealth Club invites you to join three Canadian women for a conversation on the power of images to change how we see the world, raise awareness about the most urgent environmental issues, and spark action. Seeing It All: Women Photographers Expose Our Planet is the latest publication from BigPicture and the California Academy of Sciences. Featuring more than 125 photos by female BigPicture award recipients and jurors, these incredible images present new perspectives of rarely seen animals, places, and conservation around the world.

Written by Canadian Studies board member Rhonda Rubinstein (Co-founder, BigPicture Natural World Photography; Creative Director, California Academy of Sciences), Seeing It All illustrates the extraordinary complexity of the natural world and exposes how we – humans, animals, and nature – are living together now. Panelists will also include Toronto-based photojournalist Jo-Anne McArthur (Founder, We Animals Media) and neuroscientist Dr. Indre Viskontas (USCF/San Francisco Conservatory of Music.) Tickets are available to attend both in-person and online; books will be available for purchase and signing.

Canadian Studies Program

213 Philosophy Hall #2308

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Canadian Studies Program | Univ. of California, Berkeley213 Philosophy Hall #2308Berkeley, CA 94720

Get ready for Convention!

An update on some activities from Dominion Command.


Important Branch information 

Legion Dispatch. Visit branch services.
February 2024
Twitter. Facebook. Youtube. Instagram. Linkedin.
Poppy Store.
Keep your Branch informed

Forward this email to your Branch Executives, Committee Members and other members to keep them up-to-date on important updates and information.
All Branch emails are also available on the Member Services Website
In this edition
February 2024
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2023 Year-end membership numbers are in… and the results are cause for celebration!
We are excited to announce that 2023 membership totals have grown for the second consecutive year, after three decades of membership decline. The Legion’s total paid membership as of January 31, 2024 is now 256,524 members, an increase of 5.3% (12,886 members) over the previous year!
2023 brought in 43,042 new/reinstated members… up 22.5% over last year and a new modern-day record! 89% of members that registered online joined their local Branch. Additionally, every Provincial Command saw a growth in their total membership and in their new/reinstated members. This highlights growth at the Branch level!
A number of successful business initiatives over the last six years have directly attributed to membership growth. We are appreciative of the support and buy-in of all levels of our organization including DEC, Provincial Commands, Branches and Members.
Some of the strategies positively impacting our results include:

  • Launch of the membership portal (2017)
  • Introduction of the plastic membership card (2018)
  • Introduction of the Veteran Welcome Program (2018)
  • Launch of membership auto-renewal (2019)
  • Streamlining the online member renewal process (2020)
  • Allowing members to join their local Branch online (2020)
  • Launch of MemberPerks (2020)
  • Launch of the Veteran Family Welcome program (2021)
  • Launch of the digital membership card (2022)
  • The continued acquisition of member email/phone contact information for improved communications
  • Ongoing proactive member renewal campaigns including email reminders (over 600,000 sent last year), direct mail pieces, automated renewal telemarking campaigns, online and social media marketing, Legion Magazine ads, etc.

The organization is on a path of sustained membership growth. We remain extremely optimistic for the future of Legion Membership!

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The 49th Dominion Convention is approaching!
The Royal Canadian Legion 2024 Dominion Convention will be held in Saint John, New Brunswick, August 24 through 28. This year’s theme, Building our Future on a Foundation of Strength, is not only a reflection of our past achievements but also a rallying call for the work that lies ahead.
This year, delegates and proxies representing close to 260,000 members will meet to discuss the future of the Legion. Delegates will vote on resolutions, determine national policies and elect the next Dominion President and Senior Elected Officers.
The Convention Call will be emailed to Branches later this month, and posted on the link below.
Learn more at Legion.ca/2024Convention
Bookmark this page. This page will be updated as new information becomes available.
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Advertise your Branch, District or Command in the 2024 Convention booklet
The 2024 Dominion Convention Local Arrangement Committee is accepting ads for placement in the Convention Souvenir Booklet, which will be distributed to all delegates.
The deadline to submit an ad is April 15, 2024.
Download submission form  ‣
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Did you serve in Cyprus under OP Snowgoose?
2024 is the 60th anniversary of Canadian involvement on the island of Cyprus, and the 50th anniversary of the 74th conflict.
If you served in Cyprus, you may be interested in taking a trip down memory lane by joining Team Cyprus 2024 for a November 2024 reunion. Taking place in Cyprus, the reunion is open to all CAF Veterans who served under the United Nations banner in Cyprus and family members of those who served. The linked brochure provides the background to the tour. Please contact Special Travel International for more information.
Read the brochure  ‣
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Get access to Marketing and PR resources
+ Promote membership with free Branch resources
Order FREE recruitment and retention resources through the Legion Supply Department to help promote membership at your Branch.
Check out our flyer  ‣
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PR Tip of the Month:
Your branch social media account is a Legion account
Avoid getting personal or upset when operating a Legion owned social media account. Everything posted through a branch account should align with Legion values and Articles of Faith in tone. Disengage with anyone who threatens or uses foul language, and report them to appropriate authorities as warranted.
Have questions or need advice? Contact your Command Public Relations Officer or Nujma Bond, Dominion Command Communications at nbond@legion.ca
Your Legion calendar
On March 15, it will have been 10 years since the last Canadian soldiers returned from the mission in Afghanistan. Learn more about the men and women who served and sacrificed.
Promote important dates and organize activities at your Branch with this list of upcoming days that raise awareness of an issue, commemorate a group or event, or celebrate an important topic.
Download your copy to help with Branch planning for the new year.
Download the 2024 calendar  ‣
MemberPerks®: Exclusive offers and preferred pricing through Venngo
Celebrate Family Day with us and win a $250 CAD gift card to Deerhurst Resort!
MemberPerks® is more than a member benefit package. It’s also a tool Branches can use to promote membership. Plus, you can partner with local businesses in your community to offer exclusive discounts for your members.
Learn more  ‣
Messages from affiliated organizations
The following information is brought to you by organizations the Legion works closely with, highlighting special offers and other information.
Preferred rates for Branches from Canada’s leading payment processor
Whether your Branch wants to accept payments in-person, online, or via mobile devices, Moneris offers a variety of solutions that can meet your needs. In addition to the preferred rates, you can also enjoy services such as 24/7 support and stress-free set up.
Learn more  ‣
Cost savings on everything your Branch needs to run your restaurant and hospitality services
Entegra.
Sign up for a free membership with Entegra and your Branch will receive rebates and savings through your current and new suppliers on food and beverages, furniture and equipment, maintenance and repair services, and more!
Learn more  ‣
Mailchimp: Bulk email platform
The Legion partnered with Mailchimp, a leading provider in email marketing, to offer Branches an easy, efficient, and affordable email service can help you send out newsletters to your members with the click of a button. Plus, you’ll have access to Legion-branded newsletter templates to help support the Legion brand. They also have human-assisted support to help you along the way.
Learn more  ‣
Loop TV helps your Branch promote events, activities and more… and earn extra cash!
Loop TV is a FREE service that brings entertainment and information to your Branch TV screens. In addition to Loop’s awesome content in your Branch, you also get easy-to-use digital signage to promote specials, events, fundraisers, Branch messaging and more.
The Loop Player and service are free to use, plus your Branch will earn $20 USD in Loop Rewards per active Loop player each month.
Learn more  ‣
Special offer from Legion Magazine
Special offer.
If you have any questions, please contact Member Services and we will be pleased to assist. 1-855-330-3344 or membership@legion.ca

Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. EST

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The Branch may update the email address at any time by updating their Branch Profile on the Member Services Website or by contacting Member Services. Learn more about All Branch emails.

Our contact information is:
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News & Events for the Bay Area Canadian Community 🇨🇦

A newsletter from one of our fellow Canadian organizations in the Bay Area.


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