HAY RIVER - As the new president of the Royal Canadian Legion in Hay River, Chris (Chip) Jesche is aiming to help preserve Canada's military memories and traditions.

Chris Jesche is the new president of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 250 in Hay River. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

"With the young crowd, you just have to try that much harder to get them to see the old ways," he said.

Jesche said the Legion supports and recognizes veterans of past conflicts and those in the present-day military.

When he joined the Legion, there were more veterans than today, he said.

Like many other members of today's Legion, Jesche doesn't have personal experience in the Armed Forces.

The new president of Branch 250 said the Legion also supports the community, noting it donated about $130,000 last year.

The 47-year-old was acclaimed president on Feb. 23 to complete the nine months left on the two-year term of former president Tracy Cross Gauthier, who resigned last month.

"It's a short-term position that I have," Jesche said. "With Tracy resigning, our next elections are in November, so my position will come up again for re-election then."

Jesche has been a member of the Legion for nine years.

"A lot of friends from work were going down there and I just kind of decided to be fair that I might as well buy a membership," he said, explaining that was so he wouldn't have to depend on anyone else to sign him in, but could instead come and go as he pleased.

Jesche has been a member of the branch's executive for about five years, serving as second vice-president since last year.

"Since then with getting on the executive and the love for the Legion and what it stands for, that's kind of sunk in a little bit more, too," he said.

Jesche said he became involved on the executive because the branch was facing challenging economic times five years ago.

"The Legion wasn't doing all that good, so I kind of just stepped in and thought I'd try to help out," he said.

The branch is still facing its challenges, but is doing a lot better than it was five years ago, he added.

"We're still ahead of the game, but it's getting a little bit tighter," he said.

Jesche is currently undecided on whether he will run again in November.

The time until November will give him a chance to learn about the position, he said.

"I know there is a lot of stuff I have to learn on parliamentary procedure and things like that."

Jesche would also like to add more activities at the Legion, such as a pool league and horseshoes in the summer.

"It's time to look at trying to bring in a few new ideas again to try to get people coming in," he said.

Originally from Edmonton, Jesche, who is a seasonal purchasing agent with Northern Transportation Company Ltd., first started working in Hay River in 1982 and moved to the community in 1989.

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