iN VIDEO: Summerland Legion closed, needs $150K new roof
The Summerland Legion is closed due to extensive water damage from a leaking roof and will need a costly new one if it’s going to reopen and keep offering its many services to the community.
The estimated cost of repairs for the 18-year-old roof is $150,000 and insurance will not cover it as it is deemed to be “wear and tear.”
“Typically roofs last about 20 years which this one did, the new technology is a bit better,” said publicity chair and past president at the legion, John Dorn. “The major failure was in the older part of the building. The part that failed is tongue and groove and had sagged over the years.”
A cornerstone of the community, the legion opened in 1919 and has been supporting veterans, high school graduates, piping groups and air cadets over the years, and hosting important annual events like Remembrance Day ceremonies, Canada Day BBQ picnics and the Annual lunch with Santa for kids. It donates $30,000 to the community every year and is a place where people gather to enjoy a variety of social activities and meals.
The branch was just recovering financially after pandemic closings and a Remembrance Day break-in last fall. They recently started raising funds for a new roof.
“We’re just starting our second week of fundraising and I would suggest we’re at about $25K,” Dorn said.
A number of events are scheduled with the hope of the new roof in place by the middle of October.
“Because the fundraising is going to take much longer than what we need for our timeframe of reopening, we’re going to have to get finances in the form of a mortgage,” Dorn said. “The funds are not going into the roofer’s pocket, they’ll help pay off the mortgage.”
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There are no immediate plans to move to another building.
While a few key people are paid a wage at the legion, the vast majority of the people working there are volunteers, and there is a need for more.
“We’re always crying for more help, younger generations are not stepping up, it's quite disappointing.”
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Dorn posted a video of the interior of the legion that shows water dropping down onto chairs and tables from a saturated, damaged roof on July 25.
Go here for a list of upcoming events.
To make a donation e-transfer to roof@summlandlegion.com, drop a cheque to the branch at 14205 Rosedale Avenue or donate online here.
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