Royal Canadian Legion Branch 60 - Sexsmith

08/06/2026

07/28/2026

Just a reminder that applications for our post-secondary bursaries are due on July 31st. Thank you to everyone who's already submitted. We hope to see applications still come in. You may also email the documentation if that's easier. Send us a message for the details or if you have questions.

07/10/2026

On July 10, 1943, Operation HUSKY marked the start of the Allied invasion of Sicily during the Second World War.

This large and complex operation helped open the way for the forces to move into mainland Europe.

Canadian airmen in the Royal Canadian Air Force flew high-risk missions in support of the invasion. They carried out bombing raids, protected Allied ships and gathered intelligence about enemy positions.

Canadian sailors and support crews also moved troops and supplies, ensuring landings were successful.

Operation HUSKY was an important milestone in Canada’s growing role in the war. Its success demonstrated how Canada and its allies worked together to achieve a common goal.

Today, we remember their bravery and dedication.

Photo: The landing in Pachino, Sicily, July 10, 1943

Learn more about Canada’s role in the Italian Campaign: https://ow.ly/aqrv50ZmlLb

07/01/2026

We will remember them.

🇨🇦 Happy Canada Day 🇨🇦

July 1st in Newfoundland has always carried a weight that is hard to explain unless you grew up with it.

For much of Canada, today is Canada Day. It is a day of flags, fireworks, music, family, and pride in the country we call home. But in Newfoundland and Labrador, July 1st begins differently. It begins quietly. It begins with remembrance. We call it Memorial day.

Before the red and white, there is the blue forget me not.

We remember Beaumont Hamel.

We remember the young men of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment who went over the top on July 1st, 1916, and were almost wiped out in a matter of minutes.

The losses sustained by the Newfoundland Regiment that morning were staggering. Of the roughly 800 Newfoundlanders who went into battle, only 68 were able to answer roll call the next day. More than 700 were killed, wounded, or missing.

Among the dead were 14 sets of brothers, including four lieutenants from the Ayre family of St. John’s.

Behind every number was a name. Behind every name was a family. A mother. A father. A brother. A sweetheart. A fishing village. An outport. A harbour. A church pew left empty. A future that never came home.

We remember the families, the outports, and the communities that felt that loss in every kitchen, every church, every harbour, and every generation that followed.

Newfoundland gave more than soldiers that day. It gave sons, brothers, fathers, friends, and futures that never came home.

So today, we pause. We remember. We carry them with us.

And then, as Newfoundlanders and Canadians, we also celebrate. We celebrate the country we helped build, the freedoms they fought for, and the people who continue to serve under the maple leaf today.

July 1st is not one thing in Newfoundland. It is sorrow and pride. Memory and gratitude. Loss and belonging.

Lest we forget.
Happy Canada Day.

06/08/2026

We were delighted to attend the unveiling of the new Veterans Memorial at the Sexsmith and District Museum Society. The volunteers there spent many hours putting together the tribute in such a thoughtful way; it was a blessing for our members and special guests (comrades from other Legion branches in the north).

The Museum is open every day, all summer until the Labour Day so be sure to stop in and take it in.

06/06/2026

Remembering the bravery of Canadian soldiers on D-Day.

On D-Day, 14,000 Canadians landed at Juno Beach, supported by the Royal Canadian Navy and the RCAF. The day saw 1,074 Canadian casualties, including 359 killed. It was a watershed moment in human history.
Here are some of the Canadian stories from that day.

Ernest Adolphe Côté was a Lt. Colonel in the Third Canadian Infantry Division. He was responsible for the logistics and provision of the supplies for 15,000 men. He was one of the few officers informed of the date and location of the D-Day invasion.

James Doohan landed at Juno Beach. He was shot six times by friendly fire. One shot blew off his right middle finger, and a cigarette case stopped a bullet from hitting his heart.

Learn more in my Deep Dive 👇
https://canadaehx.com/2026/05/26/james-doohan/

Jan de Vries was a paratrooper who parachuted into Normandy on D-Day but landed several kilometres from his intended target. He spent the night going back to the coast, while dodging enemy patrols. He was wounded in July 1944.

Ruth Muggeridge was a nurse who served at a base hospital that was a casualty clearing station. Over the course of one night, she dealt with hundreds of wounded soldiers who had landed at Juno Beach and assisted in saving many lives.

Conrad Landry was a Francophone soldier who landed at Juno Beach. As he arrived on the beach, the person to his left stepped on a landmine and died. He fought in the Battle of Normandy for the next month, losing an eye when his vehicle blew up.

Hugh Buckley was a soldier from British Columbia who landed on D-Day with the Sherbrooke Fusiliers. He crewed a Stuart light tank and was promoted to the rank of Corporal after D-Day. He survived the war and received the Legion of Honour Medal.

John Archibald MacNaughton was a veteran of the WW1 and enlisted to serve in the WW2. Offered the chance to retire prior to D-Day as a Major, he refused and led his men ashore. His company of 800 suffered 125 casualties, including MacNaughton who was killed.

Richard Rohmer was a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force. On D-Day, he flew a P-51 Mustang fighter over the beaches. He later served in the Battle of Normandy as a fighter reconnaissance pilot. He survived the war and remained with the Air Force.

Dorothy Irene Mulholland landed in Normandy on June 19, 1944, becoming the first Canadian woman to land in Normandy. She set up a mobile hospital and tended to the wounded. This included one 72-hour shift in the operating tent with bombs exploding around her.

Ralph Charles Spencer landed on the shores of Normandy and was shot in the left leg and knee. Despite his wounds, he was able to drag six wounded men out of the water and into safety. He was awarded the Military Medal for his bravery. He survived the war.

I hope you enjoyed that look at the stories of D-Day and Canada.

If you enjoy my Canadian history content, you can support my work with a donation at 👇
http://buymeacoffee.com/craigu

📸 LAC
📸 Juno Beach Centre
📸 Joanne de Vries

*sources*

Beam Me Up Scotty by James Doohan
Government of Canada: https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/military-history/second-world-war/d-day-and-battle-normandy
Juno Beach Centre: https://www.junobeach.org/canada-in-wwii/articles/d-day/
Canadian Encyclopedia: https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/normandy-invasion
Parks Canada: https://parks.canada.ca/culture/designation/evenement-event/normandie-normandy
CBC: The 'superb' Canadians who bravely served at Juno Beach on D-Day

06/01/2026

Did you know??

The Sexsmith Legion awards a bursary annually to four graduates of Sexsmith Secondary School or other secondary schools programs for students who reside in the Sexsmith catchment area (homeschool, JPII, etc). The "Charles Stojan, Cliff Williams, Andy Innes, and Howard Gummer Memorial Bursary" seeks to help reduce financial barriers for those who desire to go to post-secondary in the coming fall. Check out the application and details below and reach out to our Secretary, Comrade Liz Good-Gerow, with any questions.

Deadline to apply is July 31, 2026.

05/10/2026

Happy Mother's Day to all the CAF and RCMP moms, moms of serving military, moms of Veterans, and all the Silver Cross Mothers. We hope your day is filled with joy.
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Bonne fête des mères à toutes les mamans des FAC et de la GRC, aux mamans de militaires en service, aux mamans de vétérans et à toutes les Mères de la Croix d’argent. Nous espérons que votre journée est remplie de joie.