Located on the historic Main Street in Coleman, Legion No. 9 serves the community as a social hub where many have gathered for the past century to celebrate, share drinks with friends, and pay their respects on Remembrance Day. Although many members routinely stop by to socialize in this communal space, few are familiar with the unique history of this organization or its designation as Alberta’s first Legion. Soldiers returning to Canada during and after WWI were in desperate need of financial, medical, and emotional support. The families of the fallen had a difficult time surviving when most professions in the area required able-bodied men. In 1917, veterans in Coleman created their own chapter of the “Great War Veterans Association” (GWVA) to help themselves and their families. This organization would eventually unite with other advocacy groups in 1926 to form “The Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service League” (BESL). Despite being the first Legion in Alberta, the Coleman chapter chose to keep its title of “No.9” to honour its 9 founding members: W. Borrows, William Graham, P. Smith, Robert Parry, John Richards, T. Thomas, W. Warren, N. Davis, and R. Lloyde. It took a decade for Legion No.9 to acquire its present-day location at 7831 17th Avenue. The building was one of the first commercial spaces on the street and had witnessed the festivals, fires, rum running, and workers’ rights movements that shaped Coleman in the Roaring ’20s. Initially, it was a “men’s only” clubhouse with women being segregated to the basement and kitchen. However, this changed during the Second World War when women’s efforts to support veterans finally received proper recognition. The Coleman Lady’s Auxiliary played a vital role in fundraising to support WWII soldiers and their families. With Florence Williams as their first elected president, their contributions went towards several initiatives, including the 1940 “Soldier Overseas Comfort Fund,” which supplied soldiers with cigarettes, cake, and other gifts of hope. Around 40 local women joined the “Canadian Auxiliary for Territorial Service” (CATS) when it was hosted in Coleman. This branch trained women in mechanics, ambulance driving, first aid, and air raid prevention (Gascoyne, 1991). There are few alive today who witnessed these turbulent times. The longest-serving member was Thomas Sudworth, who passed away in 2014 after 73 years of membership. As we witness the passing of many of our veterans, it is more important than ever to support our local advocacy groups to ensure their legacy continues into the next century.
