Calgary's Royal Canadian Legion No. 1 is hosting a Canada Day fundraiser to honour its late president Philip MacAulay and raise funds for urgent building repairs estimated in the millions of dollars.
Honouring a dedicated leader
Philip MacAulay, a Royal Canadian Navy veteran who served as Legion president for 20 years, died June 11 after a brief battle with cancer, according to his wife Susan MacAulay, who also serves as the Legion's manager. The couple met at the No. 1 Legion and were married for 37 years.
“He's always been Legion, his life was Legion, he was dedicated here, his legacy goes on here and his celebration of life will be here,” Susan MacAulay said. “Phil was a true veteran through and through. He believed in service and country. And if he couldn't, he never thought of helping himself. His motto was what he could do for other people, not what they could do for him.”
A tireless volunteer
MacAulay was known for his hands-on approach, regularly working behind the bar on Wednesdays and Fridays, cleaning bathrooms, and taking out trash. “No job was too big or too small, and if he was going to do it, or if he asked other people to do it, he was going to do it, too,” Susan MacAulay said. “The staff here just loved Phil. So whatever Phil would do, they would help him.”
She recalled her fondest memories of Phil preparing for Remembrance Day services, where he would welcome everyone who walked in, regardless of membership.
Legion building in need of repairs
The No. 1 Legion, built in 1922 as a World War I memorial, is the oldest Legion in Alberta and has been visited twice by Queen Elizabeth. After years of deferred maintenance, the provincial site along 7th Avenue requires millions of dollars in repairs, said Legion member Nick Twyman.
The fundraiser falls on the centennial anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion's establishment and will feature local performers Ross Fizzard and Liz Christensen. Twyman noted that the building once hosted thousands of members but recent construction in the area has made the space feel isolated. “Some of the older members of the Legion don't really feel comfortable going downtown, so what we're trying to do is really shine a light on the fact that this is a beacon of survivorship,” Twyman said. “With the help of the city, the corporate community and Canadians who believe in honouring our veterans and the memory of our veterans, we think we can survive for another 100 years.”
Community and political support
On June 18, Calgary Centre MP Greg McLean delivered a statement in the House of Commons about MacAulay's death and service. “I will miss Phil at Remembrance Day ceremonies and Legion events, where he was a constant presence,” McLean said. “On behalf of this House, I extend our heartfelt condolences. May we all strive to carry Phil's spirit of service and remembrance.”
Susan MacAulay said it was an honour for her family to see the gesture, and they will do everything to keep the Legion's doors open moving forward.
