Premier Scott Moe, along with Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Laura Ross, was at the Moose Jaw ANAVETS Club on Friday to announce grants being received through the Saskatchewan Veterans Service Club Program. 

The program approved grants for 77 projects across Saskatchewan during the 2023-2024 fiscal year. 

This program has been operating since 2019 when it was announced that this very same location. 

Moe said the Moose Jaw Wakamow MLA Greg Lawrence played an integral role in the program. 

“Greg has been a big part of this program and liaisoning with our ANAVETS and our Legions and our veterans across the province for many years now. It's great for me to be here at ANAVETS Unit 252 to be with you and host this event today thanking all our veterans clubs across the province for their tireless work and their service,” the premier said. 

The grant program provides funding for veterans service clubs for facility repairs, upgrades and operational funding to the tune of $1.5 million each year. Since 2019, over $4.5 million has been allotted to 312 projects in 119 communities. 

The Moose Jaw ANAVETS Club and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 59 have benefitted greatly from the program. 

“This ANAVETS unit right here and the Royal Canadian Legion branch right across the street have received more than $158,000 in grants through this very program since 2019 since we stood on that very sidewalk out front and announced the expansion of this all-so-important program,” Moe said. 

Through the funding, the ANAVETS have been able to purchase new flooring, new chairs, new tables, an on-demand water heater, a new roof and a new air-conditioning unit. 

Meanwhile, the Legion also purchased new chairs for its lounge, a new bingo machine and upgraded their kitchenette. 

“If it wasn’t for these grants, we would never have been able to afford to do any of these things,” said Legion finance officer Marcia Lane. 

The Saskatchewan Veterans Service Club Support Program is administered by the Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command, who sits on the adjudication committee with the Saskatchewan ANAVETS. 

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