Membership in the Royal Canadian Legion is climbing sharply in British Columbia and Yukon, with the organization's B.C./Yukon Command reporting a surge in new members as the Legion marks its centenary. As of Nov. 3, more than 43,000 people had joined the Legion in the region this year. At the same point last year, fewer than 9,000 new members had signed up.
The Legion made membership free for all Canadians in 2026, its centenary year. As a result, nearly 85,000 paid memberships have been recorded so far this year, compared with about 50,000 in 2025. Membership is open to anyone, not only veterans or members of their families, a point the organization has emphasized as it invites broader participation in its work.
Bob Underhill, president of the B.C./Yukon Command, encouraged Canadians to continue supporting the Legion beyond the annual poppy campaign. The poppy campaign has long been the most visible public face of the Legion's fundraising and remembrance efforts. Underhill's message points to a hope that seasonal goodwill can grow into lasting connection with the organization, rather than ending once the poppies are pinned away.
The growth comes as communities across British Columbia prepare for Remembrance Day on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Ceremonies will be held in communities across the province to honour veterans and those who died on duty. At 11 a.m., residents will observe a moment of silence, marking the hour the armistice ending fighting in the First World War took effect in 1918.
The timing of the membership rise is tied to the Legion's centenary, a milestone that has given the organization a reason to reach out to Canadians who may not have considered joining before. Because membership is now free and open to all, the figures reflect a sharp break from the pattern of recent years, when paid memberships were concentrated among veterans and their families. The B.C./Yukon Command's numbers suggest that the decision to open the doors more widely has drawn a large new group of supporters into the organization.
The jump in members also raises questions about how the Legion will keep these new supporters involved after the centenary year closes. Underhill's appeal for ongoing support suggests the organization sees the coming months as a test of whether the surge in sign-ups can become steady, long-term participation in branch activities and community work. The Legion has not announced specific plans for that next phase in the material available for this report.
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