​Teri Leslie named Kincardine Legionnaire of the Year

Teri Leslie has been named the Kincardine Legion's 2024 Legionnaire of the Year.

The announcement was made at the Honours and Awards and Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, held Saturday night in the Legion Hall.

Legion president Jim McDonald said Leslie is one of the hardest-working individuals at Branch 183, Kincardine. She did an amazing job applying for grants for the recent kitchen renovation; and as the ways-and-means chairperson, she helped raise a lot of money for the branch through special events, Canada Day festivities, the New Year’s Eve party and Mega Meat Draws.

“All that fund-raising is great for us and for the charities we support,” he said. “She is also the person who deals with any problems that arise with our Catch the Ace draw. And her business expertise helped us launch the Legion lunches, held Monday to Wednesday.

“She has accomplished a lot, and she also offers great guidance and support for me, as president.”

“I’m overwhelmed by this honour,” said Leslie. “I look at all the names on this plaque and I’m surprised to be one of them.

“I am proud to serve this Legion, and be among such hard-working people as Kirk Rutledge, Mary and John Farrell, Bruce Hedley, Jon and Lisa Shaw, Cookie Quinn, Cathy Alcombrack and Doug Kennedy, and our president, Jim McDonald, who dedicates 40 hours per week to this. And of course, my husband, Russ, who helps out with everything here.

“We all have the same goal: to make our Legion a success and to help our veterans. Remember, a rising tide floats all boats.”

The evening began with Jennifer Farrell of the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band leading in the head table, which included Legion chaplain Rev. Eric Williams, Zone C-1 commander Jon Corbett, Legion secretary Robert Grey, president Jim McDonald and Stephanie Rutledge, chairperson of the honours and awards committee.

McDonald welcomed about 100 people to the banquet and thanked all the volunteers for their hard work and dedication toward keeping things operating smoothly at the Legion. He said this past year, the volunteers put in more than 14,000 hours to make Branch 183, Kincardine, successful.

“Our volunteers give so much to the branch,” he said. “Thanks to the new volunteers for stepping up. We could not keep this branch open without all of our volunteers; you are the backbone of the branch. We have the best volunteers at Branch 183, and there’s always room for more!”

He also thanked the Kincardine Air Cadets and members of the Kinetic Knights Robotics Team who were working in the kitchen and serving the meal so the Legion volunteers could sit and enjoy it.

Adrian Green gave the toast to the King, Larry Belanger gave a toast to our fallen comrades, and Williams gave the grace.

Following the meal, Grey read the names of four comrades who died last year: Paul Pickett, William Stewart, Bill Zoppi and Robert McCourt and the following awards were presented:

Branch Service Medal: Mike Dupuis who spends four to five hours every Thursday night, calling Bingo. He has done this for 10 years and prior to the start of Bingo, he goes around the hall to any newcomers to explain the game to them and make them feel welcome. He helps in the kitchen, either serving food or doing dishes, and he is a member of the Colour Party and helped with this year’s Poppy Campaign. Thank you, Mike, we present you with a Branch Service Medal that you may wear proudly on your Legion uniform!

Certificates of Appreciation
 

• Lynn Evans for helping set up tables and assisting at dinners.
• Al Brown for helping out.
• Mark Ozorio for tending bar, being youth education co-ordinator, and running track and field.
• Jessica Belyea for helping tend bar and assisting with events.
• Kim McElroy for taking over fund-raising.
• Don Brown for helping out.

Certificates of Merit:
 

• Carol (Cookie) Quinn for helping with many activities, and making afghans for the meat draw.
• Heather Roppel for helping with the meat draws and in the kitchen
• Russ Crook for being Mr. Catch the Ace!
• Martyn Furnivale for helping out.
• Marianne Parkin for organizing volunteers for the dinners.

Past Officer Medal and Bars:
 

• Mary Farrell, 2nd vice
• Mark Ozorio, youth education co-ordinator
• Russ Crook, ways and means

MEMBERSHIP PINS

Fifty years (medal and pin):

• Steven Colwell
• Randy Smith
• Jack Stairs
   

Forty-five years:

• Michael Allen
• Bill Arnold
• Ken Bresee
• Brad Kirkconnell
• Carole Machan
• Don Merritt
• Linda Merritt
• Bill Pym

Thirty-five years:

• Shirley Ross

Twenty-five years:

• John Farrell

Twenty years:

• Mary Farrell (life-time member)
   

Fifteen years:

• Maureen Couture (life-time member)
• Bob Eaid
• Carol (Cookie) Quinn

Ten years:

• Liz Dadson
• Adrian Green

Five years

• Pierette Lalande

Corbett congratulated Branch 183, Kincardine, on its many volunteers, and on the honours and awards and volunteer appreciation night.

“It’s nights like this that make the job of zone commander worthwhile,” he said. “Kincardine is the pinnacle of what a Legion branch should be. Thanks for all your hard work and dedication to the branch.”