The Canadian Legion of Riders’ year started with a fish fry at the Legion in February with a sellout crowd enjoying the efforts of members’ cooking, renewing memberships, purchasing merchandise and trying their luck at 50/50 draws.
The next few months members were busy sharing the Johnny Pag bike that was donated back to the group by Brenda Manners a week after she won it. The bike was repainted white with military silhouettes and the Canadian flag and the rear fender shows the tombstone of the last unmarked grave. The theme was well received wherever the bike was showed. It was hauled to Moose Jaw for a swap meet, to Lloydminster for a weekend in a mall and to Cyclemania in Saskatoon. Locally it could be seen at Agri-Mex, a Lions garage sale and the Battlefords Vintage Auto Club’s show and shine.
More than 20 bikes turned out for Kate Maceachern’s The Long Way Home May 11, escorting Kate to the Legion. The bikes paraded her the last two blocks of her walk and then formed an honour guard in front of the Legion. Kate received donations from the Legion of Riders and local businesses. She was raising funds for PTSD awareness. CLR donated $500 to the Wounded Warriors Weekend.
Throughout the riding months the website showed different events members participated in. These included the Christian Motorcycle Association Ride in May, the Knights of Columbus Ride for Life in June, Ride for a Vet in July, a run to the hills event in July and The MS ride in Lloydminster in August.
The Ride for a Vet in July was again a huge success with a record number of 236 riders enjoying the ride and showing up to support the event. There were items donated by more than 30 businesses as prizes for the riders, who also enjoyed a great supper and show and shine awards.
These included the annual Tom Kryzanowski Memorial Award thawt was won by Kevin Jones for outstanding dedication or service to the Ride for a Vet.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 70 provided a pancake breakfast and rally registration. The night saw a great dance put on with entertainment by Barons of Buckingham and One Bad Son rocking the event out in the open air under the tent. One Bad Son had the crowd going and didn’t want to stop for the draw. They kept playing until just after 1 a.m. The draw followed for the motorcycle and mini electric pocket bike.
Sept. 12, the Alberta Vintage Flat Track Association provided a racing exhibition, hosted in partnership with the Battlefords Agricultural Society. Nineteen riders came out for the Saturday exhibition that had multiple heats in different classes. During the first intermission almost all spectators visited pits to talk with the riders and see their bikes. The day ended with trophy presentations. The riders commented on the great day they had racing on the track and saying they want to come back again next year an.
As the riding season wound down a Halloween dance was hosted at the Legion’s Sloan Auditorium. Local band Beer League opened the dance with the Barons of Buckingham playing the night.
The year ended with 2016 sale of tickets for another Johnny Pag bike at the Discovery Co-op Mall in the week before Christmas with both first and second place bikes on display.
As well as having tickets available at Northern Auto bike raffle tickets are available from any of the executive or other members.
Donations made: $500 - Wounded Warriors; $8,250 – Legion Branch No. 70 towards kitchen renovations; $2,500 - Legion Branch No. 9 for a new branch sign; $2,225 - Legion Branch No. 9 for the unmarked graves in their cemetery; $638to Prince Albert Legion to repair their sign; $1,000 - Wounded Warriors Weekend event held in North Battleford; $2,000 - war vets PTSD canine project.; $1,000 each - army cadets and air cadets; $200 worth of toys - Lloydminster Toy Run; $ 1,792.00 - Meota Lions Club; and $500 - Battlefords Roller Derby League. Total donations in 2015 were $20,605.
