Election 2026

2026 Nomination/Election Chairperson: Tom Dimitroff

CURRENT CANDIDATES:
2026 information will be updated/linked here,
as soon as information is available.
Candidates are encouraged to supply a digital picture and a one-page biography
to skylinenews@rcl285.ca, as soon as their nomination is accepted.

2026 Descriptions of Position Duties

2025/26 By-laws

NOMINATIONS WILL BE UPDATED HERE:
(underlined text links to a bio)

President:
Denise Bergen

Deb Carter

Kel Lessor

Duncan MacKenzie

1st Vice:
Norman Campbell

Kel Lessor

2nd Vice: Denise Bergen

Treasurer: Tom Alexander

Secretary: Pat Lomenda

Chairman: Bryan Simpson

Executive Committee (8):

For President:
Denise Bergen

For President:
Deb Carter

For President:

Kel Lessor

For President:
Duncan MacKenzie

For 1st Vice:
Norman Campbell

For 1st Vice:

Kel Lessor

For 2nd Vice:
Denise Bergen

For Secretary:
Pat Lomenda

For Treasurer:
Tom Alexander

For Chairman:
Bryan Simpson

For Executive:
Denise Bergen

For Executive:
Norman Campbell

For Executive:
Garry Davidson

For Executive:
Sandra Hunter

_____________________________________________________________________________________

The following positions will all be up for election for a one-year term:

• President
• 1st Vice President

• 2nd Vice President

• Treasurer

• Secretary

• Chairman

• Eight (8) Executive Committee members

Nominations opened at the General Meeting, January 15, 2026.

If you wish to run for the Board, request a Nomination Form from the Front Office which you will complete and have signed by your nominator. A valid 2026 membership is required to run or be a nominator. Return the completed form to the Front Office in the Nomination Box and they will ensure that the Nomination Chairman receives your nomination.

Elections are held over a two-day period (February 20, Noon - 4 pm and 21, Noon - 5 pm) following the close of nominations in order to ensure that every member has a chance to vote. A valid 2026 membership is needed to vote.
Watch our weekly email newsletter for more details on this process.

The Executive OFFICERS consists of ELECTED
President*, 1st & 2nd Vice Presidents*, Treasurer, Secretary, Chairman
as well as Immediate Past President and Service Officer

APPOINTED Executive positions are Sgt-at-Arms; Service Officer and Chaplain

*A member must have served for a minimum of a
(1) year term on a Legion Executive
to be eligible to be elected for the positions of a Vice-President or President.

The Executive COMMITTEE consists of:
Elected Executive Directors (eight).

Following the election, the President will assign Executive Committee members
various portfolios for which they will be responsible. Expectations include submitting a monthly written report and attending two meetings(Executive and General) per month (except July, August and December.)

Current Portfolios: Cadet Liaison, Constitution & Bylaws, Entertainment/Special Events, Honours & Awards, Housing/OHS, Membership,
HR Liaison, Outreach, Poppy, Seniors, Sick and Visiting, Sports & Recreation, Ways & Means.

Additional portfolios can be activated as needed and when deemed necessary to the functioning of the Branch.
Directors-at-Large can be appointed for various committees, as needed.

As you can see, there are many opportunities to become involved in your Legion.
If something interests you, please consider putting your name forward for a position.

Consider joining our team.
Nomination forms available January 15 at the General Meeting
and by the Election Board in the Vimy Room until February 19.

As per our Branch Bylaws:

8. QUALIFICATION T O VOTE AND/OR HOLD OFFICE:

(a) Except as otherwise provided in these By-Laws, only Life, Ordinary, Associate and Affiliate-Voting members in good standing shall have the right t o vote or hold office at any level within this Branch.

(b) Members s o nominated must b e present a t the nominating meeting or have signified in writing their willingness to accept such office.

(c) To be eligible for election as a member of the Branch Executive, a person must have been a member of The Royal Canadian legion for a minimum of one (1) year and must have attended at least two (2) of the Branch General Meetings held during the past year. No person shall be nominated except as otherwise provided in the Bylaws.

(d) A member must have served for a minimum of (1) year term on a Legion Executive to be eligible to be elected for the positions of a Vice President or President.

(e) An elected/appointed Officer or Executive member of the Branch shall not hold an elected office at different levels simultaneously, within the Royal Canadian Legion.

(f) Subject to the General By-Laws and Alberta-NWT Command policy, a member in good standing may hold more than one position within the Branch; however, the holding of two (2) Officer positions simultaneously should be avoided.

(g) Members holding office in the Branch shall not hold office in the Ladies Auxiliary.

(h) No paid member (staff) of the Branch is eligible to hold office on the Executive.

9. NOMINATION PROCESS:

(a) An Elections Chairman should be appointed at least one month prior to the opening of nominations.

(b) Nominations will open at the January General meeting.

(c) (d) Nominations do not require a seconder. The elections Chairman shall call for nominations three (3) times before declaring

nominations closed for that position.

(e) All nominations will close at the February Annual General meeting.

10. BRANCH ELECTIONS:

(a) Branch elections shall be held Annually (every year) in February.

(b) Voting shall b e conducted b y secret ballot, in person or electronically.

(d) Only successful candidates shall be announced.

(e) If for any reason a position is not filled through the election process, the President, in consultation, with their executive shall appoint members in good standing to fill those positions for the remainder of the term.

(f) The Officers and Executive shall be elected/appointed for a one (1) year term.

(g) Voting will take place for the following positions:

(i) President

(ii) 1st Vice President

(ili) 2nd Vice President

(iv) Treasurer;

(v) Secretary;

(vi) Chairman; and

(viI) Executive Members (no more than 8).

(viii) In the event of a tie vote for any Executive position voted on, the Elections Chairman shall cast the deciding vote.

11. OFFICERS

The Officers of the Branch shall be the:

(i) President;

(ii) Immediate Past President;

(iii) 1st Vice-President;

(iv) 2nd Vice-President;

(v) Treasurer;

(vi) Secretary; and

(vii) Service Officer

12. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:

(a) The Branch Executive Committee shall be the:

(i) Officers; and

(ii) Eight (8) Executive Members as may be required for the proper operation of the Branch (i.e. Sgt-at Arms, Chairman,
Chaplain, etc.)

(b) The Branch Executive Committee shall take office and assume their duties and functions preferably that day, or no later than 30 days after, and shall b e installed in accordance with the Ritual, Awards and Protocol Manual and the General By-laws as amended.

(c) Subject to the jurisdiction of membership of the Branch assembled in a General Meeting, the Executive Committee shall meet on the second Thursday of the month and transact the business of the Branch.

(d) The duties and obligations o f the Executive Committee shall be in accordance with the Branch Leadership Manual.

(e) A quorum for Executive Meetings shall consist of five (5) members present, who are in good standing.

13. STANDING COMMITTEES:

(a) The President and Elected Executive Officers, may appoint a Chairman for each of the following Standing Committees at the first meeting o f the Executive Committees following the election:

(i) Entertainment;

(ii) Membership;

(iii) House and Property (Building);

(iv) Sick and Visiting;

(v) Sports, Games and District Representation;

(vi) By-Laws and Resolutions;

(vil) Poppy;

(viii) Ways and Means (Fundraising);

(ix) Finance;

(x) Outreach; and

(xi) Other ad-hoc Committees as deemed necessary.

(b) Each Chairman so appointed shall select the members of the Committee and submit names to the Executive Committee for approval at its next meeting.

Last Call for Nominations will be announced at the Annual General Meeting.

Nomination forms will be available after Call for Nominations has been made.

Congratulations to our 2025-26 Executive
elected on Saturday, February 22, 2025
(election bios linked, if available)

PRESIDENT

Stu McCann

FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT

Duncan MacKenzie

SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT

Kelvin Lessor

SECRETARY

Fiona Swanson ACCLAIMED

TREASURER

Tom Alexander

CHAIRMAN

Wade Bergen ACCLAIMED

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (3 positions available)
Denise Bergen ACCLAIMED

Norman Campbell ACCLAIMED

Poppy Committee 2025
Pat Lomenda & Tom Wood
Joanne Wood, Literary & Poster Contest

Service Officer: Dave McKay, CD

Sgt-at-Arms: Brad Mills, CD

Chaplain: Bart Dailey

Your Election Chairperson was Tom Dimitroff.

Description of Positions from 2024 - subject to revisions

2025 Branch By-laws

Election 2024 Results

Congratulations to the new Executive of Branch #285 for 2024 elected by 136 voters from 1401 current members. Thank you to Barry Connatty our Election Chairman, the volunteers who manned the voting station and to #1 Branch Scrutineers. The Installation of the new Executive took place at 2 pm, February 24, 2024.

They assumed their duties commencing March 1, 2024.

Thank you to the members who took the time to vote and to all the candidates who put their names forward.

Click on it their names view a bio document or
SKYline article to learn a little more about them.
Updated Jan/2025

PRESIDENT ACCLAIMED

Kent Griffiths

1st VICE-PRESIDENT, APPOINTED

Stu McCann

2nd VICE-PRESIDENT

Kelvin Lessor

CHAIRMAN

Duncan MacKenzie, CD

SECRETARY ACCLAIMED