Legion’s 100th Anniversary to be marked by Remembrance and community spirit

Artist Donna Campbell’s handcrafted quilt donated to Royal Canadian Legion Branch 29 Paris is a tribute celebrating the Legion’s 100th anniversary and honouring the town’s rich history and veterans’ legacy.

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

A century of service, sacrifice, and community will be honoured in a once-in-a-lifetime celebration next year, as The Royal Canadian Legion prepares to mark its 100th anniversary in October 2026.

Originally chartered in the fall of 1926 under the name The Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service League, Paris Branch 29 is proud to be one of the original Legion branches in Canada. From Oct. 2 to 4, 2026, the branch will host a series of events to commemorate the milestone.

“This is a significant moment for our branch and the entire community,” said Carrie Moran, 2nd Vice President of Branch 29. “We’re honouring 100 years of dedication to veterans and their families, and our committee is working hard to make sure it’s a memorable celebration.”

While some early commemorative activities have already taken place, the true kickoff came with the unveiling of a unique and heartfelt tribute—a handmade quilt designed and created by local artist Donna Campbell.

Campbell, who grew up in Paris and spent her youth as a distance runner through the town’s streets, has turned her retirement toward artistic expression, combining her love of textiles with the natural beauty and historic character of Paris. Her quilted piece reflects that passion and loyalty to her hometown.

“The left panel features the iconic train bridge—a landmark everyone in Paris recognizes,” said Moran. “On the bottom right, you’ll see the Smoke House, once the home of Franklin Smoke and for years now affectionately known as ‘The Branch.’”

Other panels include a depiction of the Paris cenotaph in its earlier days, and a moving tribute to Juno Beach—where Canadians left their mark on D-Day—overlaid with archival news clippings and Legion photos.

The artwork will travel throughout Brant County over the next year, making stops in public venues before finding a permanent home inside the Smoke House.

The quilt is just one part of a broader plan to rejuvenate the Legion's memorial area ahead of the centennial. Fundraising is underway to support painting, redecorating, and replacing light fixtures and furniture. Plans also include reframing portraits of past presidents and refurbishing memorial plaques.

“The ultimate goal of the committee is to raise funds to refurbish the memorial area of the Legion,” said Moran. “We want to ensure it’s a respectful and dignified space that reflects our century-long legacy.”

Donations can be made through the Legion’s website at parislegion20.ca, with contributors asked to label their support as "Anniversary."

Another major initiative leading up to the celebration is the “Poppy Project,” a community-wide effort to blanket the Smoke House tower in handcrafted poppies. A Poppy Stitch Along event will be held on Sept. 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the branch, located at 70 William St., Paris.

More details about the anniversary celebrations and poppy project can be found on the Legion website or via their Facebook page.

Everyone is welcome (and encouraged!) to drop in to the legion, no membership required. 

As the countdown to 100 years continues, organizers hope the community will rally behind the cause and help celebrate a century of remembrance, resilience, and remarkable service.