Roxboro legion reopens again after devastating October 2022 fire – Montreal | 24CA News
It nonetheless isn’t simple for members of Roxboro’s General Vanier department to discuss the fireplace that ravaged their constructing final October.
Lots was misplaced within the blaze and members are nonetheless selecting up the items.
“You could see some of the paraphernalia that’s on the walls that we managed to save — we literally dug a lot of it out of the rubble,” stated legion president Martin Bruyère.
Some of the gadgets that have been saved have been cleaned and are actually proudly displayed within the legion’s new major corridor, which is now partially opened to its members and veterans sooner or later per week.
“It’s taken us this long to get things back in shape, to modernize, and well, we’re ecstatic that we’re finally here,” stated Bruyère.
The fireplace fully ravaged the legion, which had been open for 65 years, and it was devastating for many who come right here to socialize or for help.
“We firmly believe in remembering our veterans, in helping our veterans and it’s been tough for the last 10 months,” Bruyère stated.
To assist rebuild, there have been fundraisers and group organizations and native companies even pitched it to assist.
The legion estimates about $35,000 was raised from the group..
“It was a lot of coming together,” stated Donna Abel, the legion’s treasurer. “There was things to do, there was a comedy event to plan — an awful lot of hard work went into this.”
While the legion’s major corridor is usually full, the remainder of the constructing nonetheless wants plenty of work.
The basement will finally have a brand new kitchen and an area the place members can play darts.
Meanwhile, upstairs can be renovated final as an area the legion will hire out to local people organizations.
Tens of 1000’s of {dollars} are nonetheless wanted to renovate each areas, however for now, the legion is simply glad to be open once more.
“To be able to serve the veterans and some of our neighbours in different ways, it’s really important,” stated the legion’s previous president, John Floud.
