The Esquimalt Legion doesn't expect to survive past next summer after a legal battle with a developer drained its finances.
"I think the demise is very near on the horizon because we just have no money," says Royal Canadian Legion Esquimalt Dockyard Branch manager Doug Grant. "We are totally out of money. We've actually been out of money for 10-years waiting of this development."
A partnership with a developer to redevelop their Admirals Road building and stabilize their finances ended when the two sides fell out with each other. The developer claims the legion is in default and the legion claims their deal has expired. The dispute wound up in court and remains embroiled in expensive legal proceedings.
"The unfortunate thing is we have developers that have come forward with money, ready to do the development, but this previous developer has put a certificate of pending litigation against the property preventing us from negotiations,” says Grant.
The plan would have seen the Legion retain ownership over part of a new building with the developer selling the rest to pay for the endeavor.
Grant says their branch in particular is in dire straits because of the legal bills. But they also face pressure from declining membership, a problem facing most branches. There’s a Go Fund Me campaign trying to raise money for the legal bills.