While the Royal Canadian Legion keeps the poppy campaign running and has integral programs like supplying wounded veterans with wheelchairs, the long-running institution is facing a crisis as its membership dwindles.
On a recent afternoon at Branch 286 in Toronto, many of the customers inside didn't even serve in the military, and most of the war veterans who used to come to the branch have passed away.
"About 15 years ago, we were around 1,200 people. Now we're just over 400 people," said manager Sandi Hilliard. Her branch is losing three members every week, on average.
With a smaller base of regulars, the branch is barely keeping the lights on and has a debt of $60,000.
There is a similar scene in cities and towns across the country, and dozens of branches have ceased to exist.
At a branch in Langley, B.C., locals wonder how much longer they can stay open.
"It's my home, I spend an awful lot of time here," said Langley regular Jeremy Gibbons.
Founded in 1926, the non-profit organization peaked in the 1980s, with 600,000 members at branches across the country.
These days, the legion has about 340,000 members, some branches are being shuttered and others are struggling to stay open.
Despite efforts to get younger veterans from Afghanistan to join the legion, there hasn't been much success, CTV's John Vennavally-Rao reported.
But legion faithful remain hopeful, despite a gap between wars that spans nearly a century.
"I think they may think that we're of a different generation, which we are," said Jean Marie Deveaux from a Nova Scotia branch.
In some cases, tax relief has helped save some branches, such as one in Vancouver and another in Northern Ontario.
"I think they are a lot more important than a lot of people realize. They won't realize it until they are gone," said legion regular Bob Millar.
With a report by CTV's John Vennavally-Rao in Toronto
Watch special coverage, anchored by Lisa LaFlamme, of the Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa starting at 10:30 a.m. ET on CTVNews.ca and Â鶹´«Ã½ Channel.
