The Okotoks Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion #291, was given its Charter on October 29, 2014. This opened the door to the Town of Okotoks veterans having a specific place to go and be with their comrades in an atmosphere of military camaraderie. Currently we are the guests of the Elks hall on Elizabeth Street, but are hoping to have a permanent home in the not too distant future.

FOUNDER

Malcolm Hughes

Founder & Chairman

PAST PRESIDENTS

Robert "Bob" McLeod

Jan 2015 - Jan 2021
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Ralph Wilson

2014 - Jan 2015

MEET YOUR LEGION TEAM

John MacCormack

President
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Todd Martin

1st Vice President
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Barry Leslie

2nd Vice President
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Linda Clements

3rd Vice President
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Cathy Winkelmans

Secretary Treasurer
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Dave Miles

Sgt. at Arms

Ron England

Service Officer

Nancy Tonn

Poppy Chair
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Bev Lee

Membership Chair
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Marcelle Tremblay

Youth Chair
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Kurtis Sanheim

Chaplain

Additional Committees Information

Building Committee

Bob McLeod will steer this committee, assisted by Malcolm Hughes and Mandie Barker

Banner Committee

Todd Martin is steering this committee along with Bev Johnson & Marcelle Tremblay

Honours & Awards Committee

Malcolm Hughes to steer with John MacCormack, Bob McLeod & the 3 VP's rounding out the cast

Sports Committee

Malcolm Hughes to coordinate
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Robert "Bob" McLeod

Bob grew up in Hampton, New Brunswick. He joined the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s) (M) in 1963 and then enrolled the regular force in 1966, becoming a member of RCEME.
He served in Borden, Lahr Germany, Egypt, England, two tours in NDHQ, two tours at the Land Engineering Test Establishment in Ottawa, (the second as Commanding Officer), Gagetown, and Shilo, retiring in 1995. On retirement he engaged in oil and diamond activities in Sudan and Guinea, consulted with PwC, served with UN missions in Kosovo and Sudan, with ATCO Frontec supporting the NATO forces in Kabul and Kandahar and in Haiti with ATCO Structures and Logistics.

Bob served as ATCO Structures and Logistics, Director of Warranty and Special Projects until retiring in 2014, and served as President of the Okotoks Legion Branch #291 from 2015 to 2021.

John MacCormack

John was born and raised in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.  
He joined the Primary Reserves in Jun 1983 and shortly afterwards transferred to the Regular Force.  After almost 34 years he transferred back to the Primary Reserves.  He is currently still serving with 41 Service Battalion in Calgary as the Regimental Sergeant Major until May 2021.
During his career, he was posted to Germany, Calgary, England, Nova Scotia, Wainwright AB, and Calgary.
During those years he had the privilege of participating in UN or NATO missions in Bosnia, Croatia, Albania, Kosovo, Israel, Syria, Afghanistan, and Kuwait.
John has been a Legion member since 2008 in several Legions across Canada.  He has held positions of Sgt at Arms, Sports officer, and a VP in the Okotoks Legion before accepting the position of President.
Currently as well as working part time with the Primary Reserves as the RSM of 41 Service Battalion, he also works for the Corps of Commissionaires, Southern Alberta where he is the Division Operations Officer. 

Todd Martin

Todd was born and raised in Conception Bay South, Newfoundland. In 1989, he joined the Canadian Armed Forces and served as a vehicle technician for 7 years in the Royal Canadian Electrical Mechanical Engineers in Calgary. He served with 1 Service Battalion, 1 PPCLI (Norway), PPCLI Battle School (Wainwright) Calgary Base Maintenance, 1 Field Ambulance, and supported the local reserve units with mechanical support. During his time in Calgary, he served on United Nations and NATO missions in Croatia and Bosnia. In December 1996, he left the military and took up residence in Okotoks. He currently working in the oil and gas sector as an environmental scientist and enjoys supporting his community in a variety of ways including his bicycle donation program (ReCycle Okotoks) and fundraising for Wounded Warriors Canada. Todd is an avid cyclist and lives in Okotoks with his very beautiful and highly talented wife Sharon, and their 11 year old son, Finn.

Barry Leslie

Barry was born in Regina and grew up in Calgary.After graduating with a Bachelor of Science from military college (2 years at Royal Roads Military College and 2 years at Royal Military College) in 1987 he joined the Royal Canadian Navy. Barry served as Navigating Officer and Diving Officer on HMCS Annapolis and Huron. He also did an exchange with the Royal Navy onboard HMS Invincible as assistant navigator in the Adriatic Sea. Shore postings included Navigation Instructor at Venture and Staff Officer / XO at HMCS Queen in Regina. Barry became a member of the Primary Reserve in 1998 and served as Training Officer at HMCS Tecumseh in Calgary. Barry has been a Legion member since 2014 in the Turner Valley and Okotoks branches. He is active in Remembrance Day celebrations, school visits, supporting the Poster & Literary program, Poppy fund, Colour Party, The Rolling Barrage and anything else that needs a helping hand. Currently, he works as a performance improvement coach and project manager with RLG International. As an educator, Barry has taught grades 7 through first year university in Canada, Qatar and Brazil.

Linda Clements

I was born and raised in Southern Alberta, and worked in the office industry in Lethbridge and Calgary. I became a member of the Lethbridge Legion in 1973, thanks to my father.
In 1992 we moved to Okotoks, where we successfully ran our business for almost 14, years.
I am a charter member of The Okotoks Legion #291 and have never looked back. The friends and acquaintances I have made while being part of this organization are second to none!!

Cathy Winkelmans

Cathy was born and raised in London Ontario. She joined the Primary Reserves in 1978 as a finance officer. After leaving the reserves, she maintained ties with the Canadian Forces as a “niner domestic” with postings to Calgary (lived in Okotoks), Wainwright and Edmonton. As an early adopter of office computing, she developed skills in Information Systems and Technology working in IT support and Network management at CFB Wainwright and Edmonton Garrison. She later assumed IS/IT management roles in other federal government departments. Cathy returned to her accounting roots, earning her accounting designation in 2013, while working on oil sands sites as a cost analyst. Cathy joined the Legion in 2009 and played in the McMurray Legion Pipes and Drums. She has returned to Okotoks to be closer family where she continues to pursue her interests in piping, knitting and home improvement projects. She is looking forward to supporting the Okotoks Branch as it continues to grow.

Nancy Tonn

Nancy was born and raised in Victoria, BC other than 2 years residence in Trenton Air Force Base in Ontario. After graduation, she worked as a Clerk and Transcriber for the Provincial Archives, until moving to Nanaimo, BC. After taking time off to raise her two children to school age, Nancy returned to the workforce as a Receptionist and then Senior Secretary in the Administration Department of the Regional District of Nanaimo until retirement. Nancy has been a member of the Canadian Legion since 2010 in Nanaimo, Qualicum Beach, High River and Okotoks. She is looking forward to helping the Okotoks Branch 291 in any capacity she can.

Bev Lee

I was born in Souris, Manitoba and raised in the farming community of Hayfield, Manitoba, getting all my schooling in Souris. My Dad was a Veteran of WWII and was a huge influence in my life. After leaving Brandon University I worked in retail for a year, then moved to Calgary where I started my work in banking and joined the KOCR at Mewata Armouries as a payroll clerk. I transferred back to Manitoba, and then took a job at the Credit Union in CFB Southport. It was there that I met my husband Brian, a member of the Transport Division, had our 3 children and became a stay-at-home Mom When Brian retired after 29 years of service we moved to Okotoks. I took an office job with The Landscape Artist and remained until my retirement in May of 2017, in my 14th year with them. I joined the Okotoks Legion in 2016 upon the request of Malcolm once he found out I was a dart player who could fill an empty spot on the Senior Ladies team!! I am very proud of the work done by the Okotoks’s Branch and enjoy meeting with, and talking to, all of the members and look forward to greeting more in the future.

Marcelle Tremblay

Marcelle was born and raised in a St-Zephirin de Courval, a small French town near Drummondville, Quebec.
She joined the Armed Forces in 1988 as the first female regular force Naval Maritime surface and sub-surface Officer in Canada. Until 1992, she served on HMCS Oriole and as a Bridge Watch keeper onboard the destroyers, HMCS Mackenzie, HMCS Qu’Appelle and Provider. She also served on HMCS Ville-de-Quebec as a Surface and Air Weapons Officer. Marcelle was also the first sea going regular force female Ship Diving Officer.
Between 1993 and 2003, she served in the Primary Reserve with HMCS Cataraqui in Kingston, Ontario, HMCS Queen in Regina and HMCS Tecumseh in Calgary where she served in a variety of roles including Public Affairs, Training and Diving Officer.
Marcelle and her family (husband Barry, children: Simon, Luc and Jasmine) lived and worked in Qatar and Brazil between 2003 and 2009.
Marcelle became a Legion member in 2014 joining the Turner Valley Legion and moved to the Okotoks branch once it re-opened. She became the 3rd vice-president, chair for the youth, including being responsible to the Literary and Poster competition, scholarship and bursary, organize schools guest speakers, part of the banner committee, Remembrance Day ceremonies, poppy campaign, colour party and wherever she can help.
She is currently a First Aid monitor and Assistant Returning Officer with Election Canada for the Foothills ED.