The Quebec branch of the Royal Canadian Legion receives good news – Montreal | The Canadian News

A branch of Laval, Que., Of the Royal Canadian Legion will soon have reason to breathe a great sigh of relief.

Two years ago, cans containing more than $ 1,000 in poppy donations were stolen from several Tim Hortons restaurants.

The funds were raised during the annual poppy drive by Legion Branch 251 in Chomedy, Laval, to support Canadian military veterans. Branch executives estimate that there was $ 400 in each can.

“For us, a donation is a donation,” stated Branch Vice President Shannon Westlake. “Every penny counts.”

In response to news of the theft, a representative for the restaurant chain called her, she said.

“[They] He offered a check for $ 3,500 to come to our branch, ”he explained.

After weeks of waiting, the check never came, according to Westlake. She said a restaurant representative insisted that the check be sent.

After that exchange, according to the branch vice president, there was no further communication from Tim Hortons.

“I responded to them and they are not responding, they are not responding, they are not responding,” Westlake told Global News.
He said he waited 19 months and wonders if the COVID 19 shutdowns have something to do with the silence.

Still, he wanted answers, saying the $ 3,500 could be useful now.

“Our campaign [this year] it is not close to what it was in 2019, ”he said.

Branch executives claimed that volunteers raised more than $ 40,000 that year, but in 2020 they collected only 25 percent of that due to the pandemic.

This year, Westlake noted, fundraising isn’t going much better.

That could change soon.

Just hours after Global News contacted Tim Hortons, a company representative named Westlake.

“Tim Hortons agreed to make a donation to our branch again in the same amount as the other donation,” Westlake told Global News, beaming.

She said that according to the restaurant official, the original check was mistakenly sent to a branch in Ontario.

In an email sent to Global News, Tim Hortons senior communications manager Michael Oliveira admitted to making a mistake and said: “We are working to correct it as soon as possible.”

Members of the Legion branch say they are relieved to finally get the cash and have taken steps to reduce the risk of their donations being stolen.