Retired corporal Kate MacEachern admits that “growing up, I really felt that the Legion was honestly where old guys went to drink.”
Once, and always, a tanker of Lord Strathcona’s Horse, the veteran was speaking in front of The Royal Canadian Legion’s May 16-19, 2025, Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command convention hosted in Antigonish, N.S. The now-member of the local Arras Branch has since changed her mind.
“Like many soldiers, when I got out [of the armed forces in 2014], I struggled with finding my purpose again,” continued MacEachern as she outlined her operational stress injuries, as well as the head and spinal cord trauma she sustained in uniform.
“I wasn’t sure I belonged in the Legion…until I walked through these doors.”
MacEachern discussed other pursuits after her service, among them co-founding the humanitarian organization The Canada Way, which has “delivered 290 metric tons of life-sustaining aid” to wartorn Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion. Many in the crowd—including some 135 delegates carrying 80 proxies—were moved to tears as MacEachern shared her on-the-ground experiences and their impact.
Retired corporal Kate MacEachern addresses delegates at the 57th Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command convention in Antigonish, N.S., in May 2025.[Annie Bowers/LM]
It was but one example of both passion and compassion at the 57th convention.
The town last held the biennial event 44 years ago, in 1981. Then, as now, attendees paraded to the nearby cenotaph for a wreath-placing ceremony, led by local branch President Tim Hinds. Back at the branch, Chaplain Steven Cochrane offered an opening prayer, then outgoing president Don McCumber, unable to attend proceedings in person due to health issues, made a surprise appearance via webcam, leaving some onlookers visibly and audibly emotional.
“I had six more days to go,” quipped McCumber of his tenure in the address before laying out his future hopes and concerns.
“Please, when you go back to your branches, don’t lose sight of why we’re there.”
McCumber highlighted long-term bed shortages for Nova Scotia’s roughly 33,200-strong veteran population as a major challenge, a sentiment mirrored by Dominion Chair Bill Chafe, who, speaking on behalf of senior Legion leadership, remarked that “we share Don’s frustrations, and [are] working and assisting his efforts to get these concerns resolved to the benefit of the veterans who need these designated beds.”
Chafe also touched on a few other themes, including the RCL’s centenary plans for 2026: “This will be a year for all of us at every level to shine.”
Summarizing The Royal Canadian Legion’s overarching role for veterans and their communities across the country, Chafe added: “Please continue with the wonderful things that you are doing and stay proud of the successes you have created. People recognize and acknowledge what we do and want to be part of it.”
A number of additional matters were discussed during the ensuing business meetings. It was reported that the provincial service bureau handled 795 Veterans Affairs Canada files in 2023 and 450 in 2024.
Meanwhile, 239 VAC disability claims were approved last year, weighed against only 37 unsuccessful applications, amounting to more than $18 million being awarded. The bureau also facilitated 17 new pensions and pension increases through 2024.
Even greater light was shed on Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command’s endeavours in the veterans’ outreach report. “This file is near and dear to my heart,” expressed George Della Valle, relaying how he had served as its committee chair under “five different presidents” as he detailed several initiatives.
The Veteran Farm Project Society was one, established in 2018 for female veterans wishing to embrace therapeutic horticulture alongside informal peer support. Since its founding in Sweets Corner, N.S., the program has supported some 150 families and nearly 700 individuals, with 32 free workshops and 256 participants joining in 2023 alone. There were challenges in 2024, however, “with the big storm down in Windsor [that] blew down their big greenhouse,” explained Della Valle.
Unable to attend in person for health reasons, outgoing president Don McCumber speaks to the convention virtually. [Annie Bowers/LM]
Dominion Command rep Bill Chafe poses with new N.S./Nunavut Command President George Della Valle.[Annie Bowers/LM]
“I’d like to thank all branches across Nova Scotia who stepped forward to help with a donation. In the end, we were able to buy a new, beautiful greenhouse for them.”
Representatives from other initiatives supported by Nova Scotia/
Nunavut Command were on hand to make presentations. Speaking on behalf of Heroes Mending on the Fly, a program dedicated to veterans’ rehabilitation through fishing and related activities, provincial director Ray McEachern underscored its recent successes and continued development: “We want to reach as many veterans as we can because we’ve seen the benefit of it. It’s incredible when someone who was suicidal tells you our program saved their life.”
Meanwhile, appearing virtually, Danielle Kelly of the Operational Stress Injury Social Support (OSISS) services, which provides peer support to both veterans and their families, joined her colleagues in describing the provincial facilities available.
Assisting military communities, not only at home but overseas, was equally on full display during the collection for the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League (RCEL), an organization that delivers financial aid to impoverished veterans and their widows in the Caribbean. The convention’s delegates, observers and guests donated $9,541.55 to the fund, contributing toward the 25 beneficiaries presently receiving RCEL relief.
The good news continued in the membership committee report: Across more than 100 branches, Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command now boasts 18,205 Legionnaires, an increase of 1,799 since the last convention. “This year, in 2025, all commands are on pace for year-over-year growth,” noted Chafe.
Discourse surrounding resolutions became a more impassioned affair in subsequent proceedings, including the purchase of Canadian flags for veterans’ graves through the Poppy Trust Fund. After deliberating whether the collection should be put toward deceased vets, the motion was carried with an annual branch cap of $2,000.
A resolution to have the poppy prominently displayed, along with the Canada flag, on Nova Scotia veterans’ licence plates was next on the agenda. In the ensuing debate, one argument centred on the suggestion that a large portion of younger veterans were advocating for change, while others countered that “poppies are for remembrance of those who lost their lives and those who have passed on.”
After 15 minutes of a full-hearted exchange, the motion was voted down.
A broad consensus emerged, however, in the nomination of officers and the election. Della Valle of Dominion Branch was acclaimed president. “As I stand before you today,” he told attendees, “I can only promise you one thing, and that’s that I will always give you my very best.”
Speaking to Legion Magazine, Della Valle paid tribute to late mentor Ted Martens, former grand president of Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command: “He is deeply missed.”
Meanwhile, Harry Jackson and Conrad Gilbert of Hants County Branch in Windsor, and Ron Langevin of New Ross Branch, were all also acclaimed as first vice, treasurer and chair. The only two-candidate election was for second vice, with Joanne Geddes of Centennial Branch in Dartmouth prevailing.
Business concluded with a closing ceremony fronted by the new executive.
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