A branch of the Royal Canadian Legion was formed in 1927, but likely due to the depression of the thirties was closed in 1931 and had to relinquish their charter.

     In 1941 a group of First War Veterans started Branch #167 with Raymond Ward as its first President. They met in whatever hall or meeting place was available and looked forward to when the Second World War would be over.

     When the boys came home to Lumby after the Second World War in the autumn and winter of 1945 it was decided then an unincorporated village so a building society had to be formed. The Lumby Building Society was formed in 1946 consisting of three men. These were N.R. Pat Duke, Ernie Pierce and father Frank Harrison (the Lumby Roman Catholic Priest). These men were World War II veterans and members of Branch #167.

     Branch #167 hall was constructed in 1947 for $20,000 and many, many house of volunteer labour. The $20,000 was raised by selling debentures. Pat Duke headed his committee. The property chosen for the site of the building was the south-west corner of Shuswap Avenue and Miller Street. The lot was bought from Sam Derry for $250.00. Among the many volunteers of World War I and II wasa Boer War Veteran named Percy Greaves. Also two of the World War I veterans who were recipients of the M.M. (Military Medal), Jack Niihara and Wilfrid L. Treen.

     The cenotaph was built by John Kirchsteiger. I believe it was built in the latter part of 1948. The cenotaph stood in frong of the Legion Hall, to the right of the walk to the front door, which faced east. Padre Frank Harrison took our first Remembrance Day Service. The other Padres to Branch #167 I remember were: Padre O'Reilly, Padre Somers, Padre Boettger, Padre Young Padre Matheson and Rev. Jane Moorehouse-Bourcet, who is our Padre at time of writing. The Cenotaph was moved to the Cmmunity Park when Branch #167 made preparations to enlarge the hall, approximately 1976-78.

     The downstairs of the hall, in 1947, had a cement floor with drain holes. When the town folk had water in their basements in the early summer of 1948 from high water, the Legion lounge also had water. Water was everywhere in the card room, furnace room, and sawdust room. Sump pumps were brought in and heavy 2" planks. The planks were arranged for the steward and members to talk on, and it was business as usual.

     The first bar was on the south side of the lounge, then later built in the center as a division for men only on the west side and ladies and escorts on the east side. As there was not a safe, the money had to be either taken home by the steward or stashed in a tobacco tin and hidden in the bar. The first bartender was Sam Glen. I am not sure I can remember all, but in randon order they were: R. Ward, A. Quesnel, W. Treen, F. Vosper, P. Smith, A. Eagle, A. Sawyer, G. Easton, R. Fleury, U. Gregerson, R. Link, E. Alp, E. Ashberry, A. Palin, R. Callahan, J. Fisher, J. Kendy and G. Hobson. WHen money was scarce and Branch #167 could not pay a steward the Branch executive would take over on a voluntary basis.

     The Knights of Pythias and the Pythian Sisters rented the hall for all of their meetings and had lockers for their equipment. The Pythian Sisters owned the piano which stood in the corner, near the door. At the west end was another double set of lockers for Branch and L.A. use. In these were kept flags, holsters, stands, etc. and the overflow of kitchen supplies. To the right of the lockers was a very small kitchen. East of the kitchen were the washrooms.

     Above the piano, on the wall was mounted an elk head with horns, donated to Branch #167 by Fred Schunter. This head is as old or perhaps older than the hall. It is now mounted above the stairway going upstairs from the main entrance on the north side of the building. Before the hall was built and ready for use, meetings were held in the old original libery stable, owned by Rod Chisholm, the Catholic Parish Hall and the Ormsby Hall. The first Branch meetings saw the members taking their own chairs. The members that could afford to each bought one or two chairs and were supposed to be later reimbursed which I do not believe was ever done. Benches were made and also long tables for banquets.

     The Branch #167 hall has been used by many over the years. Many clubs and organizations have rented the hell for bingos, dances, weight loss programs, flea markets, bazaars etc. Besides meeting of the Branch and Ladies Auxiliary (formerly W.A.) the veterans held many smokers. Bobby Burns' Night with bag pipes, haggis, turkey and oat cakes, Klondike Nights with black jack, crown and anchor wheel, Can Can girls and Klondike Kate, etc., was fun with most everyone in costume. The Wildlife Association of Lumby held meetings and banquets, youth groups had use of the Legion hall rent free. These included Brownies, Guides, Cubs and Scouts. ALso the Lumby 4-H Calf Club which has been sponsored by Branch #167. Lumby Queen candidates have also been sponsored. The hall has also been used for annual childrens' Christman parties and many Branch funeral and teas.

     During the later 1940's the Branch held two rodeos with member Henry Carson from the Carson ranch, Mabel Lake, in charge. These rodeos were held in the Community Park the first week in June and were very popular events. It seemed, the whole month of May saw the members in the park with shovels, hammers, nails. The post holes were dug by hand. Corrals and chutes had to be built for cattle and horses. These rodeos were quite successful with the profits going the the Building Committee. The third rodeo was held in conjunction with the village which cut the profit in half. I believe this was the last rodeo.

      The Branch purchased the Shuswap School in the early 1950's. The brought the building into Lumby and set it up as a recreational center for the youth of the village. The building stands in the Lumby Park as the Village Office with some renovation. The Branch equipped this building with a boxing ring and trampoline. Branch member Jim Jenkins trained boys for boxing. Jim, a boxer from England, came with family to Lumby and joined Branch #167 in the early 1950's. Among the boys he trained we had a champion in Alphonse Chabot. 1959 saw Branch members and people of Lumby welcoming Alphonse home as a hero along with his trainer Jim. Alphonse won the 1959 Canadian Bantam Weight Championship. Jim Jenkins said he had never seen a boxer with faster hands. Alphonse's career came to an end when he was in a car accident in Northern B.C.

     The Branch has assisted many veterans and their families throughout the years when an emergency arose. Transient veterand have also been given help by the Branch for paying for bed meals for them. Donations have been given to worthy organizations as well as scholarships. Every year at the beginning of November sees the Branch and Ladies' Auxiliary out selling poppies and wreaths. We thank the public for their support as this is a very worthy cause. We welcome all to the Service of Rememberance at the cenotaph in the Lumby Community Park.

     Not to be forgotten is the enjoyment members had at the corn roast at Bob and Helen Fosbery's, the picnics with games and races for both adults and children, the round robins with other Branches in our zone, the Branch #167 fish derbies and the building of our cabin at Gardom Lake.

     In the year of the 50th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion in Canada arrangements were made for special tulip bulbs from Holland. These were developed in Holland in 1976 and shipped out to all Branches in Canada. If you see beautiful golden tulips in Lumby and district gardens they are likely from that planting.

     During the late 1970's it became apparent that the old building was too small. The property immediately to the west was available and was purchased from Sig Ohashi for the purpose of building and entirely new building. Plans for a few Legion building were too high for the club to finance so renovations and additions to the old building were considered and finally approved. Again contract prices were too high so being our own contractor and using volunteers seemed the only option. This process was chosen and Reg Saunders named chairman, with the generous support of members, both young and old and also generous donations of lumber and materials by companies and individuals the job got done. In six months work was completed enough to allow for opening in time for November 11, 1979.

     This did result in quite a large bank loan, which when interest rates soared a year or two later became a great financial burden. Fortunately the membership had grown and included a large number of young associates, some of these attracted by the dart club organized to quite a degree by Brian Tillotson. Amongst these younger members there was a group that undertook to run the bar by volunteers and put the savings towards paying off the loan. They also ran a number of fund raising projects resulting in the loan being completely paid off in two years.

     These fund raising efforts still continue with Veterans and Ladies Auxiliary members all working together to raise money for Legion upkeep and for charitable donations. For instance the meat raffle in 1994 raised over $10,000 for community needs and charities. There is a strong dart club that is involved with other dart clubs in the Okanagan, there are pool and shuffle board tournaments for members and their guests.