Gerry Marchuk steps down as Legion President after 21 years

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Gerry Marchuk and the Rainy River Legion have been synonymous with one another for nearly three decades.
Marchuk joined the local legion in 1956 but it wasn’t until the mid 1970s that he considered running for office.
He served on the executive for three years from 1975 to 1978 and then took the plunge and ran for President.
At that time the legion was located on Third St. (where the Record Office is now).
“Things were really picking up over there,” said Marchuk in an interview last week. As president he and his executive began looking at a new location for the club. “We began doing meat and cheese trays and live entertainment on Fridays. Our membership built up and if you did not get there early you did not get a seat.”
It became so busy at the club that often the Sgt. at Arms had to stand at the door on Fridays to keep count of the crowd as not to go over capacity.
Also around that time Nevada Tickets (pull tabs) were introduced in Ontario. “They were so popular that we would sell two boxes in a Friday afternoon!”
So with a need for more room they eyed the former Beaver Lumber building which was for sale by Molson’s. “We dickered and dickered. I wanted to offer $90,000 but the executive overruled me and said to offer $104,000!” said Marchuk. In the end he said they paid $105,000 all in the name of seeing a big need for a larger home.
It was that purchase that also triggers one of Gerry’s unique memories. “One day I heard a knock at my door. It was Comrade Lloyd Hodges. He asked me how much we needed to finalize the purchase of the building.” Up to that point the members had raised a good portion of it and also accessed a forgivable loan through the Northern Affairs office for $26,000. “Comrade Joe Kaliska was very helpful in applying for that loan as he worked there.”
Marchuk said he was surprised when he told Hodges about $20,000. “He pulled out his cheque book and wrote us the cheque!”
They took possession of the building on Apr. 1, 1982 and for about a year and a half they did extensive renovations to it. All the while it continued to boom at the old club and when the new one opened on Oct. 22, 1983, that spilled over. “We had some glory days back then!” reminisced Marchuk last week.
Things were so good that they had a mortgage burning ceremony in Sept. of 1989.
Marchuk served as president from 78-83. He then ran again in 1989 and served another 21 years until he officially stepped down this past November.
He credits the hard work of the executives over the years for building the membership and the membership for supporting the club. It has enabled them to be one of the pillars of Rainy River.
Under his reign as President the last 21 years the club has been instrumental in many many community projects. They gave over $300,000 to the new hospital project; $75,000 towards the playground equipment at Hannam Park, helped move the 4008 steam engine to its present location where it was sandblasted and painted twice due to the financial help of the legion. The legion also contributed to the roof over the 4008 and errected the Veterans Flag at Heritage Square. They have continued to donate to various other community projects including purchasing the ice surfacing machine at the arena, a multi-use pad adjacent to the arena, a multi-use pad at the park where the Rainy River Walleye Tournament is held. They also donated exercise equipment to the hospital, a EKG heart machine, contributed $25,000 to the area’s CT scanner, and the list goes on and on. Not to mention the countless donations to kids for sports, including about $5,000 a year for the girls high school team so that they could practise.
In the past decade or so, challenges such as the ban on smoking, increased awareness about drinking and driving and an aging population have arisen. And while other legions have struggled, Marchuk said that the RR Legion has remained fairly sturdy. “We have about 450 members in a town of 850. Other clubs look to us and are amazed how well we do.” He said that relationship between the legion and the community is strong because of how much the club gives back to Rainy River.
Many people have benefited directly or indirectly from the legion’s generousity. In return, many people who once lived here have kept their memberships up even though they do not live here anymore.
Marchuk said that he has many other fond memories in the club including hosting the National Parachute Team The Skyhawks, two Lt. Governors of Ontario, many politicians, hosting the region’s decoration day which also saw the legion donate a special cairn at the local cemetery in the name of veterans.
And while so many groups and individuals have benefited from the legion’s generousity, Marchuk said that the number one priority, even if it is fairly quiet under the radar, “Is to help veterans and their families.”
Marchuk said that as a leader he has been criticized at times. “I ran it like my own business and some did not like that, but I do not hold a grudge.”
Current Bar Steward, Barb Legiehn, said, “You’d think he owned the place but doesn’t profit from it!”
Marchuk said his dedication to the legion was overwhelming at times. “I sometimes wake up at night worrying about this or that at the club.”
Marchuk said he could not have done all that he did at the legion without the strong support of many executive members, the staff at the club and the members. “It has been a good run and I am not going to walk away from it completely. I plan to work with (newly elected) President Walter Wagner. Marchuk will serve as Past President and said he will be around to help whenever needed.
Marchuk was decorated in 1995 with the Palm Leaf to Meritorious Service Medal. It is the highest legion award the legion grants. Only one other member, the late Don Budreau, has received it at the RR Legion. But as the record shows, Marchuk’s service to the club and the community has continued beyond 1995 to now.
He also served several terms on Rainy River town council.
A dinner to honour Marchuk will be held at the legion on Feb, 4th. Ticket information will be in next week’s paper.