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                             Membership

 

Who Can Join The Royal Canadian Legion?

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You may be eligible for membership in a Canadian branch of The Royal Canadian Legion if you are a Canadian citizen or Commonwealth subject and are of federal voting age. You may be eligible for Non-Voting membership if you are a non-Canadian citizen or a non-Commonwealth subject from an Allied nation.

All applications for membership are subject to the General By-Laws of The Royal Canadian Legion and approval by the local branch.

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There are three membership categories, each with different qualifications. The criteria for each category are as follows: 

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ORDINARY MEMBERS. Ordinary membership is open to any Canadian citizen or Commonwealth subject who is of federal voting age and whose service was terminated under conditions other than dishonourable or for reasons of misconduct and who served or is serving in:

  1. the Canadian Forces or Her Majesty’s Forces, including Regular or Reserve Forces under class “C” service; or

  2. the Forces or Underground Forces of any of Her Majesty’s allies in any war, conflict or police action in which Canada was involved (Provincial and Dominion Command approval is required for underground service); or

  3. an actual theatre of war in any of the non-military services, during any war in which Canada was involved, (i.e. Merchant Navy); or

  4. Her Majesty’s Reserve Forces including Cadet Instructors on the Cadet Cadre, for not less than one year; or

  5. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police or The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, for not less than one year; or

  6. the Forces of a country while that country was a member of NATO or NORAD in alliance with Canada; or

  7. the Forces of the United States; or h. the Vietnam War in the Forces of the United States, Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea or South Vietnam and who was a Canadian citizen or Commonwealth subject at time of service; or

  8. the Canadian Coast Guard as an officer or crew member, and who has two or more years of active service on the high seas or inland waterways; or

  9. a city, municipal or provincial police force, as a police officer, for not less than one year.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS. Associate membership is open to any Canadian citizen or Commonwealth subject, who is of federal voting age and who is not eligible for ordinary membership, and who:

  1. is the child, adopted child, stepchild, grandchild, sibling, niece, nephew, widow/er, parent, or spouse (as defined in these by-laws), of a person who is or was eligible to be an ordinary member; or

  2. is the spouse, parent or sibling of an associate who qualified under Subsection.a. or Subsection.c. to h. In the case of divorce or legal (documented) separation, a spouse who is an associate member through marriage to an associate member, retains the right to membership unless such membership lapses; or

  3. is the child of an associate member; or

  4. served as a Cadet civilian instructor for not less than 3 years; or

  5. served in The Royal Canadian Sea, Army or Air Cadets, for not less than 3 years; or

  6. served as an officer in the Navy League of Canada, for not less than 2 years; or

  7. served below the rank of officer, in the Polish Forces after WWII, and whose services were terminated under conditions other than dishonourable or for reasons of misconduct; or

  8. served in a city, municipal, volunteer, unorganized territories, provincial or federal Emergency Response Service for not less than one year.

AFFILIATE VOTING MEMBERS. Affiliate voting membership is open to any Canadian citizen or Commonwealth subject who is of federal voting age and who is not eligible for ordinary or associate membership.

 AFFILIATE NON-VOTING MEMBERS.  

  1. Affiliate non-voting membership is open to any citizen from an Allied country, excluding Canada and the Commonwealth, who is of federal voting age and who is not eligible for ordinary, associate or affiliate voting membership and who supports the purposes and objects of The Royal Canadian Legion. Affiliate non-voting members shall have the same rights as all other members except the rights to vote and hold office.

  2. b. A member admitted under Subsection (a) is not permitted to apply for voting status, unless otherwise qualified. Note: Affiliate Non‑voting members are allowed to attend branch meetings and participate in debates but cannot enter into the voting process, including motions

Associate Membership

If you do not qualify for Ordinary membership you may be eligible for Associate membership if you meet any of the following criteria:

  • Are the child, stepchild, adopted child, grandchild, sibling, niece, nephew, widow, widower, parent or spouse of someone who is or was eligible for Ordinary membership;

  • Are the child of an Associate member;

  • Have served in The Royal Canadian Sea, Army or Air Cadets for not less than 3 years;

  • Have been a cadet civilian instructor for not less than 3 years;

  • Have served as an officer in the Navy League of Canada for not less than 2 years;

  • Have served in the Polish Armed Forces after WW II below the rank of officer; or

  • Have served in a City, Municipal, Volunteer, Un-organized Territories or Federal, Fire Service for not less than one year

  • Are the spouse, parent or sibling of an associate member who qualified subject to the above criteria.


Affiliate Voting Membership

Includes Canadian citizens or Commonwealth subjects from an Allied nation who support The Royal Canadian Legion’s aims and objectives and are not eligible for ordinary or associate membership.

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Affiliate Non-voting membership

Includes non-Canadian citizens or non-Commonwealth subjects from an Allied nation who support The Royal Canadian Legion’s aims and objectives.

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Obtaining Military Service Records.


Dominion Command does not have access to Military Service Records. Applicants or next of kin may obtain statements of service from the following sources. Please include as much information as possible in your initial contact with these agencies.


CANADA - MILITARY SERVICE

Services Branch - Personnel Records Unit
Library and Archives Canada
395 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0N4
Phone: (613) 996-5115
Fax: (613) 947-8456
Website: www.collectionscanada.ca
Toll Free: 1-866-578-7777 (Can & US)

CANADA - MERCHANT NAVY

Merchant Navy Registry
PO Box 7700
Charlottetown, PE C1A 8M9
Phone: (902) 368-0094
Fax: (902) 368-0564
Toll Free: 1-888-289-8512

GREAT BRITAIN

Veterans Advice Unit
Service Personnel and Veterans Agency
Norcross, Blackpool
England FY5 3WP
Phone: 11-44-1253-866043
E-mail: see website for online form.
Website: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/ContactUs/ServiceRecordsEnquiries.htm

UNITED STATES

National Personnel Records Centre
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Boulevard
St. Louis, Missouri 63132-5100 USA
Phone: (314) 801-0800
Fax #'s: (314) 801-9195 / (314) 801-0764 / (314) 801-9049
E-mail: MPRStatus@nara.gov or MPRAssistance@nara.gov
Website: http://vetrecs.archives.gov


 

New Members

When you apply to become a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, you need to supply, along with your Membership Application Form, all pertinent documentation, as well as the current Membership Dues payable.

Please use the following chart to determine the dues to be submitted, based on the time of year you are applying.

Time of Year

January 1 - June 30 $55.00
July 1 - December 31 $27.50

Membership dues must be paid by cash, money order or cheque made payable to the Royal Canadian Legion (RCL) Branch #35.

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Current Members

For current members the annual Membership dues are $55.00 payable on or before December 31st of each calendar year.

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Early Bird Draw

The annual early bird campaign is held between September 1st and November 30th of each year. By remitting your dues before November 30th you will be entered into the draw.

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