Cathy Dobson/The Independent

As Remembrance Day looms, the leadership at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 62 in Sarnia is in disarray.

President Ron Realesmith is suspended while complaints against him are investigated by Ontario Provincial Command, and four more executive members resigned this week including interim president John Surins.

“The last straw for me was when I was threatened with discipline because I was insisting on payment to some contractors,” Surins told The Independent. “That ended it right then and there. It’s gotten out of hand.”

Surins said he resigned from Branch 62’s executive along with Michelle Salisbury, Natalie Elgie and Carl Brown. Second vice Kris Mills resigned last week and first vice and past president Les Jones resigned three weeks ago. 

Surins said he intends to remain a legion member and continue as volunteer bar chair. But he’s disillusioned by the growing number of Article III complaints that have grown to five in the last month, including one directed at him. 

An Article III complaint is a formal allegation made by a Legion member against another member for violating the organization’s general bylaws.

The first Article III complaint was levelled against Realesmith in September, and he was suspended pending the outcome of an investigation.

Realesmith initially chose not to speak publicly about the complaints but said Thursday there are too many rumours among the Legion’s 1,300 members and morale is a problem.

“So, I’ve decided to speak out about it. I look forward to defending myself at my hearing on Nov. 28 and I will be exonerated,” he said.

“The most serious complaint against me is misappropriation of lottery funds because of an off-handed, sarcastic comment I made,” Realesmith said. “It was a poor choice of words. But there is no theft.”  He said he has also been accused of harassment and denies that as well.

“I am so gutted,” he said. “I love the Legion. My father is a veteran and, for the first time, I can’t march with him (at the Nov. 11 parade).” 

He said that “when my name is cleared,” he’ll have a lot of “soul-searching” to do in deciding whether to resume his position as president.

Both Realesmith and Surins said they feel badly that Jones chose to resign after 11 years on the executive and head of security for Catch the Ace.

Numerous attempts by The Independent to reach Ontario Provincial Command Executive Director Pam Sweeny were unsuccessful. Details of the Article III complaints have not been released.   

However, Sweeney circulated an Oct. 14 memo that said Branch 62’s executive powers were suspended and three trustees were appointed to oversee administration for up to 90 days, ending Jan. 12. Surins was told he was under “direct supervision” of the trustees. However, he said he was not told why his request to pay contractors was denied.

All this during a year when Branch 62 hosted the most successful Catch the Ace lottery in Canadian history. It ran for months, became a community phenomenon and generated over $9 million in gross revenue.

The Article III investigations, the resignations of key executive, and a lack of information from Ontario Command, have left “people wondering what’s going on,” said Mark Colbran, chair of the poppy campaign and the Remembrance Day parade.

“I’m saddened by what’s transpiring at our Legion right now,” he said. “The reason we are there is to serve. But just so many have resigned.”

Colbran said both the parade and the poppy campaign are moving forward as usual. However, the poppy campaign has a volunteer shortage that Colbran says could well be because of the controversy. The campaign continues this weekend with at least 100 shifts that haven’t been covered in 34 locations. The poppy campaign usually generates about $80,000 but is currently down 7 per cent, he said.  Anyone wishing to volunteer for a shift should go online at poppieshelp.ca for details.

One long-time Legion member who did not wish to be identified, said the chaos at the top is leaving some people “forgetting why we belong to the Legion.

“It is to support our veterans and active military members and honour their sacrifices,” the source said. “This drama is a distraction from our purpose and the great work that Branch 62 does and has done for veterans and the community at large.”