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PHOTOS: ADAM DAY Clockwise from top left: The new president is Mavis Cooper; Dominion Past President Mary Ann Burdett marches in Miramichi; CF members join the Legion parade; delegates and guests enjoy a banquet; Veterans Affairs Minister Gregory Thompson places a wreath. The big news at 2007's New Brunswick convention is that the command is in good financial shape and new provincial President Mavis Cooper is looking forward to keeping it that way. This year's New Brunswick provincial convention--the command's 78th--was held in Miramichi on the Labour Day weekend, Aug. 31 to Sept. 2. The convention began on a cool, clear Saturday morning at the local Lions Club hall. After marching on the ...

PHOTOS: DAN BLACK Clockwise from top left: A solemn wreath-placing ceremony precedes the business sessions at Newfoundland and Labrador Command convention in Corner Brook; Newfoundland and Labrador Command President David Flannigan; Dominion President Jack Frost addresses the convention; outgoing command President Calvin Crane greets Lieutenant-Governor Edward Roberts at Corner Brook Branch; a group photo is taken for the CF personnel in Afghanistan. While The Royal Canadian Legion conducts a major review on governance and structure, Newfoundland and Labrador Command has gone on record to say it would oppose "any and all forms of amalgamation" that involve the command. Newfoundland and Labrador Command's opposition took the fo...

PHOTOS: TOM MacGREGOR Clockwise from top: Athletes follow a Legion colour party around the track; students try their hands at sophisticated computer programs that challenge soldiers' reaction times; Dominion Vice-President John Alger awards the gold medal; javelin-thrower Wiley Collins goes for gold. A slow clap accelerated as thrower Wiley Collins picked up his javelin and proceeded to his mark. Soon it was a rapid clap as Collins made his short run and then let go a 74-metre toss clear into the New Brunswick air. The clapping was coming not just from fellow Ontario Command teammates but his own competitors in the javelin event at the 2007 Royal Canadian Legion National Track and Field Cham...

The Royal Canadian Legion scored a significant success last year when the federal government agreed to split pension income for married seniors as of the 2007 tax year. The move which will reduce the amount of taxes paid by some seniors on fixed incomes was one of the government's reactions to resolutions put to it from the 41st dominion convention held in Calgary in 2006. The government's comments are contained in a booklet sent to all branches in August. The book contains the resolution, the government's, or other party's, response and the Legion's position. "The comments from most respondents are very detailed ...

The federal government has agreed to offer a one-time ex gratia payment of $20,000 to those who suffered as a result of testing with Agent Orange and other chemicals at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown in the 1960s. The announcement was made Sept. 12 in Fredericton by newly appointed Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Veterans Affairs Minister Gregory Thompson. The tax-free payment is available for only those individuals who have been diagnosed with a condition associated with Agent Orange based on findings of the United States National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine. Those eligible must have worked or trained at CFB...

PHOTOS: DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENCE From left: Sergeant Patrick Tower received the Star of Military Valour for actions in Afghanistan. The Medal of Military Valour was awarded to (from left) Private Jason Lamont, Master Corporal Collin Ryan Fitzgerald and Sgt. Michael Thomas Victor Denine. For the first time in Canadian history, the Star of Military Valour and the Medal of Military Valour have been awarded to soldiers of the Canadian Forces. The Canadian military valour awards were created in 1993 and consist of the Victoria Cross, the Star of Military Valour and the Medal of Military Valour. The Victoria Cross was originally created by Queen Victoria and has previously been awarded to Canadians by Britain. When Canada created its own valour awards, a Canadian Victoria Cross wa...