‘Our big job now is retaining them’: Free 2026 membership leads to 350 new members at Kamloops Legion

The Royal Canadian Legion’s Branch 52 in Kamloops has gained about 350 new members since Jan. 1, after the organization made 2026 membership free to mark its 100th anniversary. Branch president Mike Young said the priority now is retaining the newcomers, bringing the branch’s membership to roughly 700. Annual dues normally cost $70, with much of the revenue supporting the local branch and some funding Legion programs.