Sick Visiting Committee

Donald W Smart

Sick Visiting Report current as of March 3, 2003

Joint Visiting Committee

        The mandate of the Sick Visiting Committee is to visit Royal Canadian Legion members of Branch #4 who are sick in hospital or shut-in at home. The purpose is to assist our veterans wherever and whenever possible and to promote their physical and emotional well-being. In addition to home visits the committee and other volunteers also attend at health care facilities, some of which include:

  • Deer Lodge Center
  • Grace General Hospital
  • Health Science Center
  • St Boniface General Hospital
  • Nursing homes and other personal care facilities

        The Sick Visiting Committee organizes, sponsors and participates in several activities throughout the year for our comrades' pleasure. Some of these are:

  • Monthly BINGO at Deer Lodge Centre
  • Veterans week at the Branch
  • Visits to the Branch for Remembrance Day
  • Participation in the annual Poppy Fund drive

        The St. James Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion has a very devoted group of volunteers in addition to the Committee. They put their hearts and souls into their commitment to visiting Branch members. They are truly humbled and grateful for the opportunity of serving those who are unable to gain access to information and services, comrades who are deserving of the special attention accorded them. The Committee is made up of: Chairman, Don Smart; members Garney Grantham, Herb Nicholson, Gordon Rutherford, Peter Sawatzky, Art Urich and Alphie Walters

        If anyone is aware of a veteran who is confined due to health reasons, this should be brought to the attention of any member of the Committee so that they can be included in the various plans and activities. Also, if anyone wants further information about the committee, or if they simply want to volunteer some time to this worthwhile effort, contact should be made with Don Smart at the Branch or with the Branch office during business hours.

Sick Visiting Report

Weather sure has been cold- Things can only get better.
Will start this report on a brighter note with a little story (true) from a coffee break at the Branch. Comrade comes in the Legion, sits down at the table and says "Life is short. Enjoy it as much as you can!" When I left the Courts of St. James this morning, a damn Police Officer was writing out a parking ticket. So I went up to him and said, "Come on buddy, how about giving a guy a break!" He ignored me and continued writing the ticket. So I called him a pencil-dick. He glared at me and started writing another ticket for having worn tires! So I called him a piece of horse s----. He finished the second ticket and put it on the windshield with the first one. Then he started writing a third ticket! This went on for about 20 minutes. The more I abused him, the more tickets he wrote. "I didn't give a darn. My car was parked around the corner." I try to have a little fun each day. It's important.


At Home Visitations- Cde. Peter Sawatsky


Cde. Lou Megyesi- Tuxedo Villa- happy for visit.
Irene Crosdale- Tuxedo Villa- OK.
Joe Felletti- At Home- slowing down, can't walk to far.
Lloyd Noble- " " - not too bad today.
Dale Osbourne- Central Park Lodge- doing fine. Likes to read a lot.
Clarence Saunders- Lions Manor- always interested in Legion activities.
Fred Christian- At Home- not well today.


At Home Visitations (cont'd) - Cde. Vicky Bilecki


Cde. Albert Collings- At Home- called him twice by phone. Doing fine, says his family is taking good care of him. He gets out to the Courts to visit with friends.
Cde. Roy Buskell- At Home- had a pleasant visit with Roy and Sadie. Both doing fine.
Cde. Eleanor McKnight- Misericordia Place- Personnal Care Home- visited with her. She has a good memory. I had left my gloves there and she returned them. She also got her Kahlua!

At Home Visitations (cont'd)- Cde. Gary Macdonald


My wife Sandi has been coming with me on my sick visiting rounds. George, Maxine, Al, Cory and even Chester really enjoy Sandi's presence, instead of just the 'ole'- not old guy.
George Day- At Home- had a nice visit. As always, George is happy and smiling. Maxine and George wished us well on our holiday.
Chester Hammond- Legion Lodge- had a great visit with Chester in the lounge. He was keeping an eye on the lodge. Was happy for the visit and we caught up on some gossip.
Al Hayter- Heritage Lodge- Al is doing as well as can be expected. We had a nice visit and Al was glad to see us. Cory was under the weather. We wish them both well.

Oakview Place- Cde. Gordon Rutherford


Cde. Ray Fogg- always happy with visit.
Cde. Olive Horton- gets her "goodie package" each month from the Branch. She is about the same.

Deer Lodge Centre- Cdes. Alfie Walter and Art Uhrich


Done our first Bingo of the year, Wed. Feb. 5, 2003. All three $5.00 jackpots were won by the Veterans. Good turn out and 12 Branch volunteers. Myself (Alfie) and wife made a special visit Feb. 14th, Valentine's Day and took special treats to all Comrades on our list. The place was a beehive of activity, with many parties, school children giving out bought and home made valentines to all the shut-ins, plus many other veterans groups handing out treats.
Lance McClarty- about the same, gets around in his wheelchair.
Al Johnstone- resting, so just left his package.
Karl Hutter- not too good at this time.
David Brown- was having a real bad day.
George Stevens- fairly good at this time and had a nice visit.
Doug Gibbs- was up and about, doing fine.
Walter Lindeblom- found him in "Chad's Bar" nice visit.
Iris Humphreys- was out of his room, did not find him, so let him his little treat.
Bill Leslie- also found him in bar area, had a short visit.
Harvey Buckwald- doing fairly good, had nice visit.
George Herrington- was not in his room but found him later on main floor. Doing ok.
Vaughn King- watches t v all night and sleeps most of the day.
Hugh Johnstone- was not in his room. But found him in the bar area (popular place). Had a real good visit.
Fernand Lamothe (Joe)- was out for treatments at time of visit.


Grace Hospital and Others- Cdes. Herb Nicholson and Don Smart


Lorne Pearson- At Home- having real back problems since his operation.
W. H. Schmitt- Grace Hospital- not very well at this time.
Nora Cook- Grace Hospital- sure looks good for 93 years young. Has been there since 20, Jan. and hopes to get home soon. Cde. Cliffe Cook (her son) visits her every day.
Fernand Lamothe (Joe) Ex-Commissionaire Front Door. Was in Health Science Centre. Now in D.L.C. had open heart surgery and has since had a stroke. He can not speak and is in a wheelchair, his mind is good. His wife was there with him, so she was able to bring me up to date on his health. Joe is on Wing 3E Room 306 Bed 3 if you wish to visit him.
Bill Thompson- At Home- had nice visit with him and his wife. Also a nice cup of tea.
In closing, keep those get well wishes coming in., not sick report. To those who have lost ones since our last report, our sincere condolences.

Donald W Smart 

Chairperson