.

Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

RANKIN INLET - There's a new face leading the way for the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 169 in Rankin Inlet these days.

Paul Waye was voted in as branch president during the Legion's recent annual general meeting (AGM).

Paul Waye was recently elected as the new president of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 169 in Rankin Inlet. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

Waye has been a Legion member with the Nova Scotia-Nunavut Command since moving to Rankin a little more than two years ago and is a former executive member for the Elks Lodge in Iqaluit.

He was the first vice-president before the AGM, and decided to offer his name for the position when former president Margaret Taylor announced her resignation.

"I believe in what the Legion stands for and what it's doing in Rankin," said Waye.

"And, to be honest, there really wasn't a lot of interest in the position from the membership, so I decided to step up.

"Being a Legion member is a way to give back to the community and that's something I want to do."

Waye said the Rankin Branch is making more of an effort to let people know it's there to help when it can.

He said the Legion stands for a lot more than having social gatherings on Friday or Saturday nights.

"The Legion is an active member of the community and helps out with groups like the cadets.

"We, as members, try to do a lot more for the community than just supplying a watering hole for thirsty people on the weekend.

Waye said the Rankin Legion has done a good job in helping the community, but there's room for improvement.

He said members who attend meetings regularly are all on the same page when it comes to wanting to do more for the community.

"In addition to our support for the cadets, we hold an annual barbecue on Canada Day and the Remembrance Day poppy drive, ceremony and poster contest for the students are all very big deals for the Legion.

"We just made a donation to the Nunavut Sivuniksavut Program and I'd like to see more groups like that approach us for help.

"We do have some money to donate to worthy causes, but we don't get a lot of correspondence asking us.

"We're hoping to see more requests for assistance this year so we can do more to help worthwhile causes in our community."