Become a Member

WHY SHOULD I JOIN?
By joining The Royal Canadian Legion you will have the opportunity to make new friends, become involved with your community and to develop and share your leadership skills.  You will help perpetuate the Remembrance of those who gave so much for the freedom and prosperity we enjoy today and the proud heritage of this great Canadian organization will be enriched by the enthusiasm, energy and new ideas that you bring to it.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES – Most Legion Branches have recreational facilities and may have licensed lounges.   Members enjoy a wide variety of social events such as dances, barbeques, entertainment and a host of other special events.

MEMBER TOURNAMENT SPORTS – Tournament sports such as darts, curling, cribbage, slopitch , euchre and golf are offered through Legion Branches with competitions ranging from local, provincial and national.

COMMUNITY SERVICE – The Legion serves the community in many different and deserving capacities.  BC/Yukon Command prides itself in designing unique programs tailored to meet the unaddressed needs in the community for veterans, seniors, citizens and members of the Canadian Forces.  As well, programs for youth are extensive and rewarding, preparing them for the challenges of tomorrow.
   
LEADERSHIP– The Legion encourages members to assume leadership responsibilities throughout the various levels of the organization including, Branch, Zone, District, Provincial and Dominion.  At the national level every Dominion President for the past 75 years started as a Branch President.

COMMUNITY SERVICE – As Canada’s largest volunteer organization, tremendous intangible benefits are gained through the commitment of members to fulfill the mandate of Remembrance, service to the community and our country.  Our Fallen comrades served in battle, you have another way to serve with The Royal Canadian Legion.

LEGION MAGAZINE - Members receive a subscription to the Legion Magazine issued five times a year, with interesting articles and up to date information on Legion Branch activities.  

 TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP

There are presently five categories of membership namely:  Oridinary; Associate; Affiliate Voting; Affiliate Non-Voting and Military Members at Large.

 ORDINARY MEMBERSHIP - This category is open to those who have served or are serving in Canadian Armed Forces.

• Canadian Armed Forces or Her Majesty’s Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve Forces with Class C Service)
• Armed Forces or Underground Forces of any of Her Majesty’s allies in war or police action in which Canada was involved
• Merchant Navy or non-military services in a theatre of war in which Canada was involved
• Her Majesty’s Reserve Force including Cadet Instructors with 12 months of service
• The Royal Canadian Mounted Police or The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary with 12 months of service
• Armed Forces of a country while with NATO or NORAD
• United States Forces
• Canadian citizen or Commonwealth subject serving in the Vietnam War with US Armed Forces, Australia, the Republic of Korea or South Vietnam

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP-This category is open to relatives of those who served and other applicants.

• Child, stepchild, grandchild, sibling, niece/nephew, parent, widow/er of someone who served
• Spouse, sibling, parent or child of an Associate Member
• Served in The Royal Canadian Sea, Army or Air Cadets for three years
• Cadet civilian instructor for three years
• Officer in the Navy League of Canada for two years
• Served on city, municipal or provincial Police Force for one year
• Served in the Polish Armed Forces in WW II

AFFILIATE NON-VOTING MEMBERS
Affiliate non-voting membership is open to any citizen from an Allied country, excluding Canada and the Commonwealth, who is of federal voting age and who is not eligible for ordinary, associate or affiliate voting membership and who supports the purposes and objects of The Royal Canadian Legion.

AFFILIATE VOTING MEMBERS
Affiliate voting membership is open to any Canadian citizen or Commonwealth subject who is of federal voting age and who is not eligible for ordinary or associate membership.

HOW CAN I APPLY?
Membership in The Royal Canadian Legion originates at the local Legion Branch level.  Within the BC/Yukon Command there are 155 Legion Branches located in a majority of communities.  Each Legion Branch enjoys a measure of autonomy and activities, programs and membership dues may vary from Branch to Branch.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM

MILITARY MEMBERS AT LARGE
The Royal Canadian Legion offers a special Military Members at Large (MML) membership to current serving members of Canadian Armed Forces.  This enables membership without being affiliated with a local Legion Branch at the time of application, given their diverse postings across the nation.

•    Open to all active service personnel of Canadian Forces
•    Application approval by Legion Headquarters-Dominion Command
•    MML members hold Ordinary membership
•    MML members enjoy all social activities at Branches
•    MML members will not be able to vote or run for office or compete in sporting events until they transfer to a Legion Branch.  

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM

RIGHTS AND PRIVELEGES

RIGHTS AND PRIVELEGES	MEMBER CATEGORY
Vote and hold office at all levels	Life, Ordinary, Associate, Affiliate Voting
Vote at Branch level only	Meritorious Life
Sports at all levels	Life, Ordinary, Associate,Affiliate Voting and Non-voting
Sports at Branch level only	Meritorious Life
Wear Legion Dress	All categories
Attend Branch Meetings	All categories except Honourary
Chair Branch Committees	All categories except Honourary and Affiliate Non-voting
Serve on Committees	All categories except Honourary
Transfer Branches	All categories except Honourary and Affiliate Non-voting
Social Amenities of other Branches	All categories except Honourary and Affiliate Non-voting

DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

Type of Membership	Qualify By	Documentation Required
Ordinary	Self	- Proof of citizenship. - Service record and/or discharge certificate.
Associate	Family Member	- Proof of citizenship. - Service record and/or discharge certificate of person who is or was eligible for ordinary membership. - Marriage, birth or adoption certificates to establish relationship to person who is or was eligible for ordinary membership; or - Marriage, birth or adoption certificates to establish relationship to associate member.
Associate	Common Law Spouse	- Proof of citizenship. - Verification that applicant has cohabited with the other person for minimum of one year; i.e., Income tax return, mortgage, lease, mailing address.
Associate	Navy League	- Proof of citizenship. - Documentation indicating rank of officer and that the two year service requirement has been met.
Associate	Cadet Cadet Civilian Instructor	- Proof of citizenship. - Documentation or a letter of confirmation from the Commanding Officer of Cadet unit indicating that the three year service requirement has been met.
Associate	Polish Forces	- Proof of citizenship. - Service record and/or discharge certificate indicating rank and dates of service.
Associate	Firefighters	- Proof of citizenship. - Documentation indicating service and that the one year service requirement has been met.
Affiliate Voting	Self	- Proof of citizenship.
Affiliate Non-Voting	Self	- Proof of citizenship.