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Canadian Legion

When World War II began, the Canadian Legion immediately wanted to provide support to the men who would be enlisting. It created the Canadian Legion War Services Inc to organize the war work of the Legion. The principal duties of this new body were to provide personal services, entertainment, subsidiary services, and an educational program. A nationwide fundraising drive was held in February 1940, PEI being the first province to exceed its goal.

With the support and direction of the Legion War Services, the Summerside Branch # 5 was able to secure some premises where military personnel could find a "home away from home." The building was the former residence of the late Dr. MacLellan at the corner of Summer and Church Streets. Colonel Ralston visited the house in April 1941 and expressed his pleasure with the facilities that would be available to all service men while in Summerside.

The Canadian Legion War Services Club opened officially on May 2, 1941 with a singsong followed by speeches by the Premier, the Mayor and Wing Commander Fullerton. They all praised the work of the local Legion in outfitting the house as a recreational centre. Special mention was made of the "home-like" touch made by the Ladies Auxiliary who at the conclusion of the ceremony provided a luncheon.


On August 21, 1941 a representative of the Summerside Journal visited the Club and wrote an article describing the premises. He reported that hundreds of service men had already made use of the facilities. There was a lounge, games room, library, and writing room, and a Dry Canteen run by the Ladies Auxiliary members. Members of the Red Cross Corps became assistant workers. Roland Phillipson and his wife were caretakers of the building under the supervision of a special committee.

In addition to weekly Sunday night singsongs, the Club also held free Friday night dances. Services included the use of a telephone and an office where private matters could be discussed with a Legion representative. In 1942 a "Mother's Corner" was added where local ladies did mending for the service men.

Lack of space became an issue in 1943 with the large increase in the number of personnel in the area. The Legion was able to sell the property and acquire the large dwelling along with most of the furniture of the late Judge A.C. Saunders. It was centrally located on land now occupied by the Summerside Post Office. The Legion was now able to provide private space for members of the Women's branches. Another new service was information regarding places for rent.

The official opening of the new Legion "Home" was held on May 17, 1944 with Lt. Gov. B.W. LePage as special guest. The ceremony was followed by a three-hour open house for inspection by the public. A feature of the afternoon was a handicraft display showing items made by Airport personnel during leisure hours.

By the end of 1944, thousands had taken advantage of the recreation centre. The Ladies Auxiliary sold canteen items to hundreds daily. Members of the Red Cross Corps were on duty 7-10 each evening in the home's Information Bureau "to assist those in quest of living quarters." The Red Cross Society began holding Blood Donor Clinics one day a week.

One of the principal methods that Branch No. 5 used to raise funds during the war years was by holding a weeklong carnival. The first one was held in the Summerside Curling Rink in the early fall of 1942 and was so successful that it became an annual event for several years. The carnival was an excellent way for Airport personnel to show their talents. There was always a Variety concert featuring Air Force members, an Amateur night that often included airport personnel, and an evening of boxing matches with men from the surrounding stations.

The Legion had the cooperation and participation of RCAF Station Summerside in another annual activity. Each November, the Air Force marched in the Remembrance Day parade along with Summerside veterans and took part in the ceremony at Memorial Square. A record attendance at the Remembrance Day dinner in November 1945 included personnel from the Airport.

The Summerside Legion was in the forefront of providing public welcomes to servicemen returning from the war. A Reception Committee under Sgt. Patrick Ryan tried to meet all new veterans at the railway station. In an article about Ryan in February 1946 the Journal noted, "with every contingent of men returning from overseas he was always among the first on hand to give them a welcome and escort them to the Legion Home." In March 1945 the Town Council decided to give $10 a month to the Branch to go toward homecoming receptions that were an important part of its work starting in August 1944.

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