17 July 2026 is a day to reflect and celebrate!

Dear Branches,

On Friday, July 17, 2026, The Royal Canadian Legion will mark its 100th anniversary — a historic milestone honouring a century of service to Veterans and their families, preserving Remembrance, and supporting communities across Canada.

Branches are invited to take part in a shared national day of recognition and Remembrance by hosting local activities in and around this date.

How to Participate

While additional details and resources will be shared soon, the intent is to:

• Hold a commemorative ceremony to honour the Legion's 100 years of engaging Canadians in Remembrance
• Host a community celebration or open house, providing an opportunity to engage the community in the Legion’s story
• Invite members and the public to participate in a collective initiative of Remembrance

This day is an opportunity to celebrate our legacy and to invite Canadians to learn about the Legion and take part in Remembrance.

1. Commemorative Ceremonies (National and Local)
 

Dominion Command will host a special national commemorative ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa to mark this anniversary. The ceremony will highlight the Legion's enduring role as a steward of Remembrance over the past 100 years. It will incorporate key elements of a commemorative ceremony, such as the National Anthem, Last Post, Lament, Rouse, Act of Remembrance, reflection, and the Royal Anthem, while allowing for a broader and more flexible program than a traditional November 11 service.

In addition to remarks from dignitaries and Legion representatives, the ceremony will include participation from Cadets and feature a National Youth Remembrance Contest winner who will share their essay, highlighting the importance of remembrance across generations.

Branches are encouraged to hold similar ceremonies within their communities as part of this shared national moment. This is an opportunity to recognize your own Branch's ongoing role in fostering Remembrance within your community.

2. Community Celebration / Open House
 

Branches are encouraged to open their doors to the community following their ceremony. An open house provides an opportunity to educate the public about the Legion’s history, the importance of Remembrance, its ongoing support to Veterans and their families, and its role in the community. It also creates space to build connections, highlight Branch activities, and encourage visitors to learn more, get involved, and consider joining the Legion for free during this special year.

3. National Remembrance Initiative
 

A special national initiative will invite Canadians to take part in a shared act of Remembrance by reflecting on and honouring those who have served and sacrificed for our country.

Branches will be supported with materials to gather short, personal messages of remembrance from members and the public. These individual reflections will come together as part of a larger national tribute — a collective expression of gratitude from communities across Canada.

More Details to Come!

Further information — including details, planning tools, and supporting materials — will be provided in the coming weeks to support Branch participation in these initiatives.

In the meantime, we encourage you to mark this date and begin considering how your Branch would like to recognize this historic anniversary within your community.

Thank you for your continued dedication as we prepare to commemorate 100 years of the Legion.

Working together to serve Canada's Veterans