Legion gives $27,000 to Town of Hay River

A project of the Town of Hay River has received a boost from the profits of the most recent Chase the Ace in the community.

At the Oct. 29 meeting of town council, Branch 250 of the Royal Canadian Legion presented a donation of $27,000 towards the construction of a Fisherman's Wharf pavilion, which is currently being built and due to open in 2020.

"The project relies on commitments and donations from the community, and we're very happy to have the Legion make this significant contribution," said Glenn Smith, the assistant senior administrative officer with the town.

The $27,000 donation was slightly over half of the proceeds from the Legion's Chase the Ace lottery, which concluded on Oct. 11.

Blake Lawrence, the president of Branch 250, presented the donation to Mayor Kandis Jameson.

In later comments to The Hub, Lawrence said the Fisherman's Wharf pavilion was chosen for support because it will benefit everyone in the community.

"That was 51 per cent of the profits," he noted.

Lawrence added that some other smaller donations will be made to community schools, such as $250 or so for student awards.

The Legion itself will also use some of the proceeds from the Chase the Ace.

"We're looking at a new heating system or maybe a new cooler. We're not sure," said Lawrence. "Probably the heating system first, tough."

The president said Branch 250 was very pleased with the results of the organization's first Chase the Ace, noting it made a profit of over $50,000.

Plus, he noted the event, which was held on Friday evenings, helped bring more people into the Legion.

The executive of Branch 250 has not yet discussed whether it will apply to the Town of Hay River for another Chase the Ace, Lawrence said. "Probably not. We're probably going to let others have a chance at it."

During the presentation of the donation to the town, Coun. Keith Dohey praised Branch 250 for the rebound of its financial situation in recent years.

"I just want to point out how far their organization has come in a few short years," Dohey said, noting that the Legion had been in a situation of owing taxes to the town and having trouble just keeping the lights on.

"And to see them at a point where they're able to make a $27,000 donation back to the community in just a few years is huge," he said. "So I just want to commend them for that."

The winner of the Chase the Ace at the Legion was Rick Nault, who picked the Ace of Spades and won a jackpot of $47,486.