Veterans
Thank you for your service
Upper Rideau Branch 542 Westport Legions mission is
to serve Veterans and their families, promote Remembrance and act in the Service of Canada and its Communities.
We offer a wonderful support network for our Veterans through both our Veterans Services, and Veterans Liaison committees. We honour them through the Banner project and Military Service Recognition Book. We have a Poppy Fund and Bursaries and offer financial assistance to our Veterans and their families.
For more Information contact:
Dave Marshall
at
Veterans Affairs: https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en
Mission
To serve Veterans and their families, promote Remembrance and act in the Service of Canada and its Communities.
Remembrance
​Upper Rideau Branch 542 Westport has a Remembrance Day ceremony in Westport and also in Newboro every November 11th to honour our Veterans and those we have lost.
Other Important Ceremonies
More Ceremonies to follow-stay tuned for more information
Other important dates:
Veterans Week - November 5th - 11th,2025
Remembrance Day - November 11th,2025
Saint Barbara's Day - December 4th,2025
Vimy Ridge Day - April 9th,2026
Battle of Atlantic - May 3rd,2026
Liberation of the Netherlands - May 5th,2026
VE Day end of WW2 - May 8th, 2026
Peacekeepers Day - May 29th,2026
The Poppy Fund
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All money collected during the Poppy Campaign is separate from the Legion's general account. This fund is used to help Veterans, their families, and to promote Remembrance.
Our Poppy Trust Fund is recognized by Revenue Canada as a charitable entity. We accept e-transfers to rclbranch542@gmail.com
For more information on our Poppy Fund and how you can contribute, contact Dan Grunig at:
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Inspired by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae’s poem In Flanders Fields, the Poppy was adopted by The Royal Canadian Legion in 1921 as a sacred symbol to commemorate the service and sacrifices of fallen Veterans.
The Poppy Campaign is very much a local initiative, conducted by Legion Branches in cities, towns and communities across the country. Donations collected during the Poppy Campaign are held in Trust at the branch level to directly support Veterans and their families
QUILTS OF VALOUR
Quilts of Valour Mission statement:
Our mission is to ensure that injured Canadian Forces members are recognized for their service and commitment to our country. We give this support through the presentation of quilts to comfort our injured past and present Canadian Forces members.
Quilts of Valour - Canada Society Launched
Through the encouragement, support and enthusiasm of quilters, the Quilts of Valour - Canada Society was formed as a registered national charity in 2009.
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The Quilts of Valour – Canada Society has presented quilts to thousands of recipients who are coping with injuries both visible and invisible. These quilts are made by volunteer quilters from across the country who wished to show their appreciation to our injured Canadian Armed Forces members, past and present for their bravery and commitment to Canada and its citizens. The quilts come from individuals, groups and guilds, men and women, young people, retired armed forces members themselves and many others with no connection to the military.
The Military Service Recognition Book
The Royal Canadian Legion – Ontario Command is proud to launch the 13th Annual Edition of its Military Service Recognition Book (MSRB), a powerful tribute to the Veterans who helped build and defend our nation.
This special publication is a way to celebrate and preserve the legacy of our Veterans. Each edition shares the personal stories and photographs of Ontario’s Veterans, preserving their legacy for future generations and reinforcing our role as the Keepers of Remembrance. Whether you’re a Veteran yourself, a family member, or a friend, we invite you to share a story and photo of a Veteran you know.
To participate, contact Danielle Tapin through our branch email at rclbranch542@gmail.com, submissions are accepted year-round.
The Banner Project
We have launched the Banner Program this year to honour our Veterans. Each Banner will be hung from a utility pole in the Village of Westport and surrounding Rideau Lakes area for a set period of time each year. For more information, please contact Barb Wilson at 1.613.273.2077.
Applications are also available at the Branch.
Eligibility of Veterans:
We want to celebrate our local Heroes. This includes both deceased and active Veterans. The Royal Canadian Legion defines a veteran as “any person who is serving or who has honourably served in the Canadian Armed Forces, the Commonwealth or its wartime allies, or as a Regular Member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, or as a Peace Officer in a Special Duty Area or on a Special Duty Operation, or who has served in the Merchant Navy or Ferry Command during wartime.” Canadian members of the United Nations Peacekeepers are included as part of this project with connections to Westport & the surrounding areas. This encompasses individuals born in Westport/Rideau Lakes or its vicinity, those who have lived or currently reside there, and those with significant ties to the community. The program seeks to foster remembrance and respect for our Veterans, ensuring their legacies live on for future generations.
The 2025 Banner are up !
A total of 25 for the first year !
Barb is now taking orders for 2026.
This is an opportunity to give a thoughtful Christmas gift for a loved one, to honour and remember a Veteran in your family. Such a gift not only celebrates the holiday season but also pays tribute to those who have served, making it a gesture of appreciation and remembrance.
The banners will be prominently displayed in the village of Westport and the surrounding Rideau Lakes area each year during the months of October and November.
Royal Canadian Legion
Upper Rideau Branch 542
10099 Perth Road, Westport, Ontario
1.613.273.3615
email: rclbranch542@gmail.com
westportlegionevents@gmail.com