December General Meeting and Elections

Time: 11:00AM

Place: Lounge (no entry once meeting commences)

Bar will be closed during meeting
Bring proof of membership!

President's Message

I am pleased to confirm that many of the current Executive members are seeking another year to serve Branch 292.  Their experience and positive performance are key ingredients to our success.

Our main objectives for 2025 will be

• To seek a 10-year tax relief.  Your executive has already met with city decision makers, other not-for-profit organizations receiving tax relief, and has prepared a written brief detailing the case for Branch 292 tax relief.
• To upgrade the Branch kitchen to improve operating efficiency and quality in food preparation.  This would be included for Member's decision in the 2025 budget.

Performance Measures

• Improved financial practices and increased Membership engagement at the Branch has led to a $225 thousand increase in our cash reserves over two years at the helm.
• Membership attendance and participation at Branch sporting, gaming, dances and special events has increased sharply.  Indeed, many events reached full capacity. Branch membership has increased to over 1700.
• Branch kitchen and staff will serve up just under 20,000 meals this year.  The Branch has also started dry goods collection to support Veterans House Victoria and Rainbow Kitchen.
• Branch Gaming donations to ten local charities will be close to $70 thousand this year and are more focused on serving the needs of veterans, their families and community.  About 28 unions and organizations meet regularly in our Branch.

A summary on the future of Branch 292 property

• The current Branch Executive priority is to secure continued tax relief in some form.  In the absence of tax relief, the Branch would need to assess the impacts of absorbing tax payment and to consider other options, such as some form of property development.  Surely a pre-requisite to discussing development options is the approval by Branch Membership to undertake such actions.  The Branch Executive unanimously agreed that we would never get the same quality space and facilities from any development option.  We have a physical gem and need to provide for its future.
• The Branch 292 property assessment in 2024 is $10.256 million but we have tax relief for the remainder of 2024 and 2025.  I have drafted a list of Branch social and economic contributions to our Membership and City of Victoria.  A meeting has been scheduled with Mayor of Victoria to discuss and initiate the process to continue tax relief.
• I provided a briefing on the Branch's recent tax history; the alteration in the Burnside-Gorge Official Community Plan, the resulting zonation change for Branch (allowing for housing densification), and the resulting major increases in Branch property assessment and tax levels.
• A Branch Executive member recently had an informal opportunity to briefly discuss Branch taxes with Mayor Alto; the Mayor confirmed her publicly stated position that Legion Branches should not be subject to municipal taxes.  More recently Mayor Alto was in Ottawa meeting with Parliamentarians on a variety of topics and took the opportunity to raise development options for Branch 292 property.  Reportedly DND mentioned $10M for housing feasibility study.  The Mayor was not asked by the Branch Executive to enter into these or any property development discussions.