A dedicated volunteer who started with the Elmira Legion 27 years ago is the new president of Canada’s largest veterans’ group.
Gordon Moore was elected Dominion president of the Royal Canadian Legion on June 13 at the organization’s 44th Dominion Convention in Halifax, where some 1,200 delegates cast ballots.
The Dominion Convention, which convenes every two years, is the Legion’s governing body that sets the policies and programs for the 330,000 members of the organization formed by First World War veterans in 1926.
Moore is the 40th Legionnaire to hold the office as leader of Canada’s largest veterans’-based community service organization.
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Moore was elected to be a Dominion vice-president in Ottawa in 2008.
“It wasn’t a total surprise receiving and winning the nomination to become president but it is a great honour to be the president,” said Moore at a gathering held June 23 at the Elmira Legion.
As president Moore takes on the leadership of the Legion as it modernizes and continues to deliver services to all of Canada’s veterans and their families.
He said he will continue to advocate for veterans, work to improve membership retention and acquisition rates, and work to ensure Legion members receive wider recognition in the community for their good works.
“For me it is very important to be able to deal with the minister of Veteran Affairs on the issues that we have. With the new veterans charter we have a long ways to go. We have to be able to deal with these issues and get the government of Canada behind us and make sure that our veterans get what they deserve. We ask them to go into harms way and we should be there for them 100 per cent.”
“My goal during my term of office is to make this organization stronger,” he said. “I want to make sure that all Canadians remember what these men and women did and do for us. I truly believe that remembrance should be everyday not just on Nov. 11.”
Moore served with the Canadian Army with the 2nd Battalion of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in Winnipeg from 1969 to 1972.
He moved to Elmira in 1980 and has been a member of the Elmira Legion for 27 years.
“I have been a part of the Legion for a long time and have seen a lot of changes occur over the years. It has been a pretty good journey.”
Moore said the Legion is becoming more modern.
“Right now there are technological and social changes happening within our own structure and I am sure these will help us remain viable in the community and the nation.”
As Dominion president, Moore will be travelling across the continent to attend numerous events and functions including the RCL National track and field championship held in Charlottetown, PEI and the American Legion Convention held in Indianapolis, Minnesota.
Just last week he was in Trenton, Ont. for the ground-breaking ceremony for the Afghanistan Memorial in memory of 150 men and women who have “paid the supreme sacrifice.”
“I will see and do a lot over the two years as president.”
Over 200 guests and visitors paid their respect and well wishes for Moore at the Legion gathering.
“He has had a lot of support and a lot of people from our branch went out to Nova Scotia to be there for him. It is great to see him get to this level and see all the support he has received,” said his wife Kathy.
Moore has also been an avid volunteer aside from his time with the Legion, working with minor soccer and junior and senior softball leagues. He has also volunteered with the Children’s Wish Foundation.
The newly elected executive of the Royal Canadian Legion includes Moore as president; first vice-president Tom Eagles from New Brunswick; vice-presidents Ed Pigeau from Ontario, Peter Piper from Saskatchewan and Dave Flannigan from Newfoundland and Labrador; treasurer Michael Cook of British Columbia; and chairman Tom Irvine of Quebec.
