'We literally ran out of money': Calgary Legion forced to close pub, sell building
'We literally ran out of money': Calgary Legion forced to close pub, sell building
It was supposed to be a model for Legions across Canada but, six years after it opened, the Royal Canadian Legion No. 264, known locally as the Kensington Legion, has closed its public restaurant and bar and sold its building, becoming a tenant in the property it once owned.
“It's sad from a couple of points of view,” said Alan Pentney, treasurer of the branch. “We could not generate the revenues we had expected. We wanted to put them back into the community. We had projected possibly a $250,000 in profits if everything had gone well, which would have gone back into the community.
“It’s also sad because we has such an excellent space that we were able to provide service to people.”
Legion No. 264 moved into its digs at 1918 Kensington Road as part of a land swap with Truman Development Corporation in 2017. The deal saw Truman build a four-storey office complex, with a street level pub, and exchange it for the Legion’s large property next door.
Under the new model, the Legion expected three revenue streams: memberships, office space leases and the 1918 Tap and Table Pub.
“The 1918 Tap and Table was very successful. For the first two years, you needed reservations to get in here,” said Pentney, “and then of course, COVID came along, but it still remained very popular.”
While the Tap and Table was profitable, it did not make enough to offset losses in the other revenue streams.
The Kensington Legion was hit hard by Calgary’s rising office vacancies.
“The leasing situation in all of downtown Calgary suffered drastically,” said Pentney. “So it was virtually impossible for us to lease space, especially since we didn't have the revenues to create the improvements to attract people into the space.”
Membership sales also fell. The Kensington Legion once claimed to be Canada’s largest, with over 4.500 members. In 2017, when it moved buildings, that was down to 1,400. Currently there are only 400 members on its roll.
“We have lost roughly 1,000 members over the past three years. combination of COVID and the fact our lounge was shut down and other legions were open,” said Pentney, “so people moved their memberships either didn't take up memberships or moved.”
Pentney said city property taxes were the Legion’s largest expense and the one that eventually forced the sale.
“We literally ran out of money. And so we had to offer the building up for sale,” said Pentney.
The Legion asked council for a break on its property taxes but was turned down. The area councillor told CTV News that council tried to work with the Legion, but eventually had to make a decision that was fair for everyone.
“The critical question for us, of course, is, whatever we do, how does that preserve equity across all other businesses that went through difficult times during COVID?” said Ward 7 Coun. Terry Wong.
“In other words, a tax relief of some sort, that would have introduced inequity, and the potential for others coming forward (to ask for the same break).”
Last week, the Legion completed the sale of its building to Ronmor Holdings Limited for $7.5 million. As a part of the deal, the Legion will lease the second floor of the building for the next 50 years.
Legion members are meeting Monday night to discuss what to do with the money from the sale. They are also looking for ways to bring back some of those members who left and attract new ones to the Legion.
Despite the financial difficulties the Kensington Legion faced, Pentney still believes the model is a good one for Legions in the future.
“At the end of the day, we're coming out ahead anyway, in that we have space – we have a lease for 50 years at a very reasonable terms and a home,” said Pentney.
“So, I still think it's valuable option for Legions to look at – getting rid of old buildings that are getting run down and moving into newer spaces and, perhaps down the road, Legions will need to amalgamate and join each other.”
Pentney says a new pub is expected to open in the spring inside the space previously home to the 1918 Tap and Table. In the meantime, the Legion’s members-only space will be open to the public until the new restaurant and bar is running.
The federal Liberals are trending downward on three key measures while Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has surpassed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when it comes to the question of who Canadians would prefer now as their prime minister, according to Nanos Research.
The Vatican on Thursday responded to Indigenous demands and formally repudiated the 'Doctrine of Discovery,' the theories backed by 15th-century 'papal bulls' that legitimized the colonial-era seizure of Native lands and form the basis of some property law today.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, in a leaked cellphone call, commiserated with a COVID-19 protester about his trial while divulging to him there was an internal dispute over how Crown prosecutors were handling COVID-19 cases.
The Canada Revenue Agency will pilot a new automatic system next year to help vulnerable Canadians who don't file their taxes get their benefits. This week's federal budget says the Canada Revenue Agency will also present a plan in 2024 to expand the service, following consultations with stakeholders and community organizations.
Months after Canada's ban on foreign homebuyers took effect on Jan. 1, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has made several amendments to the legislation allowing non-Canadians to purchase residential properties in certain circumstances.
When the doors close at night at the administration office at Yukon's Carcross Tagish First Nation, a van hits the road and drives through the communities to offer naloxone to reverse overdoses, drug testing kits, food and even a friendly face to help those struggling because of the opioid crisis.
To help offset rising living expenses, the Government of Canada has introduced a one-time grocery rebate for low- and modest-income Canadians. Here is what we know about the rebate.
After a man was fatally stabbed outside of a Vancouver Starbucks in front of dozens of witnesses, video of the attack is circulating on social media, raising questions about why nobody stepped in to help.
The Vatican on Thursday responded to Indigenous demands and formally repudiated the 'Doctrine of Discovery,' the theories backed by 15th-century 'papal bulls' that legitimized the colonial-era seizure of Native lands and form the basis of some property law today.
Alberta's energy regulator has defended its finding that the province's largest recorded earthquake was caused by oilpatch activity, saying the pattern of temblors since last fall clearly points to a water disposal well even though there's no suggestion rules were flouted.
Cloudy skies in the Edmonton area this morning. But, after a bit of light snow overnight, it looks like the city and surrounding areas are pretty much done with the precipitation for today.
The Riverview Hospital itself has been closed for more than a decade, but 289 people are currently receiving treatment for mental health, addictions or both at the old site.
Vancouver city council has asked staff to shape a policy that would require grant recipients to engage with officials in a "respectful manner," a move that one political scientist says suggests an attempt to prevent or punish criticism.
After a man was fatally stabbed outside of a Vancouver Starbucks in front of dozens of witnesses, video of the attack is circulating on social media, raising questions about why nobody stepped in to help.
The eve of the release of the final report from the inquiry into Nova Scotia’s 2020 mass shooting is a reminder for residents of Portapique of their small community’s traumatic past.
After British Columbia singled out a Nova Scotia practitioner for writing thousands of Ozempic prescriptions to Americans through pharmacies in metro Vancouver, officials in Nova Scotia began looking into the matter.
Toronto city council will decide Thursday whether to grant the TTC the authority to withdraw up to $15 million from its reserve funds to deal with “unbudgeted measures” addressing health and safety.
It's been two weeks since a major fire ripped through a heritage building in the heart of Old Montreal, killing seven people and forever altering the lives of families across the globe. For the families of those who died, the grieving process is only starting.
The CAQ government has unveiled its long-promised plan to improve Quebec's public health network. Tabled at the Quebec legislature Wednesday by Health Minister Christian Dubé, Bill 15 promises a major shakeup.
A young man found wounded late Wednesday night in the parking lot of a shopping centre in northeast Montreal is believed to be the victim of an earlier shooting in the same area. Montreal police (SPVM) reported Thursday morning that the 18-year-old man's life was no longer in danger.
The Canada Revenue Agency will pilot a new automatic system next year to help vulnerable Canadians who don't file their taxes get their benefits. This week's federal budget says the Canada Revenue Agency will also present a plan in 2024 to expand the service, following consultations with stakeholders and community organizations.
Parents had their say at a Vimy Ridge Public School town hall as the Ottawa-Carleton District School board addressed concerns around harassment and bullying.
A Saskatoon murder trial is being adjourned to allow police to follow-up on "significant information" that just came to the Crown prosecutor's attention Wednesday.
CTV News has learned a dog that attacked a five-year-old boy last week had been declared dangerous in February 2022, but the city had lost track of the owner a year ago.
A 34-year-old man who used to live in Sudbury is sharing his side of the story after a criminal harassment charge involving former Mayor Brian Bigger in 2021 was dropper earlier this year.
A Manitoba family has launched a lawsuit alleging their 23-year-old son had a stroke days after receiving a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, leaving him legally blind.
A Winnipeg judge is set to make a court ruling on Thursday in the trial of a retired priest accused of assaulting a woman while she was a student at a residential school more than 50 years ago
The Vatican on Thursday responded to Indigenous demands and formally repudiated the 'Doctrine of Discovery,' the theories backed by 15th-century 'papal bulls' that legitimized the colonial-era seizure of Native lands and form the basis of some property law today.
To help offset rising living expenses, the Government of Canada has introduced a one-time grocery rebate for low- and modest-income Canadians. Here is what we know about the rebate.
