The local Royal Canadian Legion is reaching out to Veterans, offering more than a drink or a round of pool. It’s looking to help.
Joe Elliott is the third Vice President and the Operational Stress Injury Rep for the BC / Yukon. He says Prince George has one of the highest numbers of Veterans per capita in Canada, but the Legion’s numbers don’t reflect that.
“90% of our Veterans in Canada don’t come into our Legion until it’s too late. We’re no long an old man’s drinking club, we need to make sure that these guys get the help they deserve.”
Legions offer everything from peer support to financial aid to mental health assistance.
One program Elliott highlighted uses horses to treat PTSD in Quesnel. It’s a $5000 treatment, but Veterans in the Legion don’t pay a dime.
All of these are available to Veterans and Elliott is trying to get the word out.
“That could be a 30-year-old Afghanistan Veteran, it could be a WWII Veteran that never even knew he could come here. I found a 90-year-old British paratrooper (who) never even knew he could join the Legion, never even knew he could get any help.”
The Legion welcomes anyone to join.
The Legion will start its poppy campaign on Friday.
Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
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