Youth Programs
Legions throughout Ontario Command sponsor youth programs that include
sports, cadet corps, scouts, leadership training and remembrance
activities. It is our aim to help youth learn an appreciation for
teamwork, leadership, duty and most importantly, Remembrance.
Remembrance
Legions believe educating our youth on the high cost of their freedom is
one of our most important roles in Ontario today. We must impress upon
young people who have never known war, that freedom was won at the cost
of many lives; young lives like their own. Our annual
poster,
literary (Dominion Command)
and
Public Speaking
(Provincial Command) contests with a Remembrance theme, help focus the attention of
the participants on those who gave all for the freedom we enjoy.
Ontario Command participates in the biannual Pilgrimage of Remembrance.
This program, organized by our Dominion Command, uses veterans and other
Legion dignitaries as guides for tours of WWI and WWII battlefields and
cemeteries.
Sports
Some of the most popular youth programs are the multitude of sports
programs run by Ontario Command Branches. Sports activities such as
hockey teams and leagues, baseball, softball, soccer, swimming, figure
skating and lacrosse are among the programs supported by our branches.
Each year, many branches co-ordinate track and field programs. These
programs allow young athletes to participate in many events and to
complete with other athletes at District meets, and at Provincial levels
in one of the Legion's semi-annual provincial meets.
Leadership
Legions in Ontario Command help to promote patriotism, leadership and an
awareness of duty by sponsoring youth groups such as scouts, navy league
and sea, army and air cadets. The Legion, through our local branches,
also sponsors the Cadet Medal of Excellence. This medal is awarded to
outstanding young men and women who participate in cadet programs.
Education
Ontario Command branches are encouraged to support the Encounters With
Canada program, that brings together students from across the country
for a week of Canadian studies and activities at the Terry Fox Centre in
Ottawa. More than 3,000 young people from across Canada participate in
this excellent program.
Legions throughout Ontario Command sponsor bursaries for high school,
college and university students. Our branches also pool funds with
Ladies' Auxiliaries through our Ontario Command Branches and Ladies'
Auxiliaries Charitable Foundation. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in
bursaries are awarded each year through the Charitable Foundation.