Membership Services

Who can join?

Canadian Branches

You may be eligible for membership in a Canadian Branch of The Royal Canadian Legion if you are a Canadian citizen or Commonwealth subject and are of federal voting age. There are four membership categories:

• Ordinary Membership
• Associate Membership
• Affiliate Non Voting Membership
• Affiliate Voting Membership

Each category has different qualifications. The criteria for each category is as follows:

All applications for membership are subject to the General By-Laws of The Royal Canadian Legion and approval by the local branch to which the application is made. For further information, please contact your nearest Legion Branch )or USA Post/Branch).

The criteria for each category is as follows:

Ordinary Membership

• Ordinary membership is open to any Canadian citizen or Commonwealth subject who is of federal voting age and whose service was terminated under conditions other than dishonourable or for reasons of misconduct and who served or is serving in:
• the Canadian Forces or Her Majesty's Forces, including Regular or Reserve Forces under class "C" service); or
• the Forces or Underground Forces of any of Her Majesty's allies in any war, conflict or police action in which Canada was involved (Provincial and Dominion Command approval is required for underground service); or
• an actual theatre of war in which any of the non-military services, during any war in which Canada was involved; (i.e. Merchant Navy); or
• Her Majesty's Reserve Forces including Cadet Instructors on the Cadet Cadre for not less than one year; or
• The Royal Canadian Mounted Police or The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, for not less than one year; or
• the Forces of a country while that country was a member of NATO or NORAD in alliance with Canada; or
• the Forces of the United States; or
• the Vietnam War in the Forces of the United States, Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea or South Vietnam and who was a Canadian citizen or Commonwealth subject at the time of service; or
• the Canadian Coast Guard as an officer or crew member who has two or more years active service on the high seas or inland waterways; or
• a city, municipal or provincial police force, as a police officer, for not less than one year.

Associate Membership

Associate membership is open to any Canadian citizen or Commonwealth subject, who is of federal voting age and who is not eligible for ordinary membership, and who:

• is the child, adopted child, stepchild, grandchild, sibling, niece, nephew, widow/er, parent or spouse of a person who is or was eligible to be an Ordinary member; or
• is the spouse, parent or sibling of an associate who qualified subject to the following criteria:
• In the case of divorce or legal (documented) separation, a spouse who is an associate member through marriage to an associate member, retains the right to membership unless such membership lapses; or
• is the child of an Associate member; or
• served as a Cadet civilian instructor for not less than 3 years; or
• served in The Royal Canadian Sea, Army or Air Cadets, for not less than 3 years; or
• have served as an officer in the Navy League of Canada, for not less than 2 years; or
• served below the rank of officer, in the Polish Forces after WW II, and whose services were terminated under conditions other than dishonourable or for reasons of misconduct; or
• served in a city, municipal, volunteer, un-organized territories or federal Fire Service, for not less than one year.

Affiliate Voting Membership

Affiliate voting membership is open to any Canadian citizen or Commonwealth subject who is of federal voting age and who is not eligible for ordinary or associate membership.

Affiliate Non-Voting Membership

Affiliate non-voting membership is open to any citizen from an Allied country, excluding Canada and the Commonwealth, who is of federal voting age and who is not eligible for ordinary, associate or affiliate voting membership and who supports the purposes and objects of The Royal Canadian Legion. Affiliate non-voting members shall have the same rights as all other members except the rights to vote and hold office.

Why Should I Join?

By joining The Royal Canadian Legion, you will have the opportunity to make new friends, become involved with your community and to develop and share your leadership skills. You will help to perpetuate the Remembrance of those who gave so much for the freedom and prosperity we enjoy today and the proud heritage of this great Canadian organization will be enriched by the enthusiasm, energy and new ideas that you bring to it.

Here are just some of the many benefits membership in The Royal Canadian Legion brings:

• Social Activities
  
  Most branches have recreational facilities and may have licensed lounges. Members can enjoy a wide variety of social events such as dances, barbeques, entertainment and a host of other special events

.

• Member Sports

  The Legion has sporting events such as darts, curling, cribbage and golf, with competitions ranging from local, provincial to national levels
.



• Member Benefits Package

  The Legion has developed a relationship with a number of corporate partners to provide products and services to its members. Some of the partners include a home and auto insurance company, health care services, a credit card company, and an auto club to name a few. Only Legion members are entitled to the benefits offered




• Community Service

  You can serve your community by assisting with the many Legion programs in support of youth, seniors, the disabled and others. The Legion also provides bursaries and scholarships to students from Secondary School to the University level and is the largest single support of Scouts and Guides in Canada. It is also a major supporter of sea, army and air cadets
.



• Leadership

  You will have the opportunity to grow within this great organization. The Legion needs members who can take on the Leadership challenge. If this is where your interest lies you can become involved by serving on the branch executive. You may even wish to go to higher levels such as zone, district or provincial. You may even aspire to the national level. Every Dominion President who has served in this capacity started out as a branch member. You too could one day be President of the largest community service organization in Canada




• Service

  As Canada's largest volunteer organization, tremendous intangible benefits are gained through the commitment of members to fulfill the mandate of remembrance, service to the community and our country. Our fallen comrades served in battle, you have "another way to serve" by joining The Royal Canadian Legion




• Legion Magazine

  Your membership includes a subscription to the Legion Magazine which is published six times a year. It contains articles on various topics including history, current events and general interest stories, as well as keeping members up-to-date on the many and varied Legion activities. It also contains a section dedicated to the recognition of those who served their country

The many opportunities and programs offered by The Royal Canadian Legion are identified throughout our web site or you may wish to contact your local Legion Branch or Post for more information.

The Royal Canadian Legion Welcomes You!