Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Dominion Convention has been rescheduled to Aug. 12-19, 2021, at the TCU Place convention centre in Saskatoon. All other arrangements will be the same as planned.

The following convention will be in 2024 in order to resume dominion conventions in even-numbered years. Senior elected officers of Dominion Command will retain their offices until the convention.

Provincial commands will make their own decisions about their conventions scheduled in 2021.

National Headquarters has released $3 million in emergency funds to help struggling branches. Branches should contact their provincial command if they have need.

Dominion Executive Council made the unprecedented decision to release the money from the Legion’s reserves in order to provide non-refundable grants. These are not poppy funds, which cannot be used for branch operations.

“Despite the current challenges, our incredible members and branches are doing incredible volunteer work,” said Dominion President Tom Irvine in making the announcement. “Our communities need them and we want to do everything we can to help them help others.”

The funds are being dispersed through provincial commands and international zones. Specific amounts disbursed to branches will depend on individual situations, and commands and zones will be required to inform Dominion Command how the funds were used.

These were two of several announcements by The Royal Canadian Legion concerning the Legion and veterans.

The 2020 Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships in Sydney, N.S., in August is cancelled. The next national track and field event will be in Sherbrooke, Que., in August 2021.

Meetings of Dominion Executive Council and other committees are going ahead as teleconferences and video conferences.

National Headquarters of the Legion is resuming normal operations. Legion command service officers are available for advice and to assist veterans filling in forms for benefits from Veterans Affairs Canada.

The Supply Department at National Headquarters is operating; orders can be made through the poppy store at poppystore.ca.

Legion Magazine, which has its office in Legion House, continues to publish Legion Magazine and Canada’s Ultimate Story on their regular schedules.

Other Canadian veterans’ groups have also announced cancellations and postponements.

The 104th International Four Days Marches Nijmegen in the Netherlands has been cancelled for 2020. The Legion’s representative for the Nijmegen Marches, Joan Cook, will remain in place and keep training for 2021.

The Canadian Institute for Military and Veterans Health Research annual forum in October has been cancelled. Organizers are using other ways to keep members informed. The Legion will still award its annual scholarship in support of veterans and military health research. Details will be announced at a later date.

At press time, branches were still adapting their operations to support veterans during the pandemic, planning for restricted operations and bracing for financial challenges.