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.
The Legion’s
National Youth Track and Field competition
is the only one of its kind in Canada and has come to be regarded as
one of the best in the country. Annually, it helps hundreds of
athletes aged 12 to 17 years to develop their potential and strive
to become Canada’s future Olympians. In fact, many of our former
participants have gone on to international and Olympic success.
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.
