A great weekend for Barriere Legion Branch 242 began on Thursday, Sept. 9, when the out of town guests started arriving for the International Gavel Passing. The cowboy theme event is a friendship gathering between the ninth district-Washington, USA legions and the South Okanagan Similkameen zone, North Okanagan zone and Nicola Thompson zone.
It was our zone’s turn, Nicola Thompson, to host the gavel passing where there were 81 out of town registered guest including those from the USA, over 20 from Barriere and other guests as far away as from France.
Friday was the steak and chicken supper followed by a dance with music by Diane Ball from Osoyoos, BC.
Saturday was when the fun really began. There was a “Trail Ride” - this is where those who wished to go around and visit our local businesses and get their trail ride booklet signed for a draw on Sunday. They had 10 stores taking part. Great fun and great complements were received about our local businesses.
Next was Snuffy’s Pin Sales. Snuffy Clarke from from Chase Legion Branch 107, set up his pin collection for sale. The money collected by donation was given to Barriere Branch 242 to be redistributed to kids programs in the community. A total of $96 was raised. Thank you very much to Snuffy.
Next was the golf. Nine players took part in an event organized by Denise Howe. The golfers loved Chinook Cove golf course but wished they were mountain goats. The winners for ladies’ low score was Faith Tilton and men’s was Al Nicol both from Branch 227 from Okanagan Falls. Ladies KP and long drive was won also by Faith Tilton and men’s was won by Ron Watherman from Armstrong Branch 35.
There were 25 people signed up to play other games who didn’t golf. So there were three teams with nine players and two with eight. They played a double round of Ladderball, Holio and Ring Toss. Team two was first with 50 points, team one came in second with 33 points and team three with 23 point.
After the games an auction was heled. Auctioneer Barry Brady did a fantastic job. The auction raised $1162. Thank you very much Barry . The legion’s regular meat draw was held during the same time.
After another great supper put on by the volunteer ladies of the Barriere Branch the fun for that evening began. First the Ashcroft girls put on a great western skit with all 13 ladies who were in attendance. They have been doing these skits at gavel passings for years - great job and thank you.
Next came the Queen - King contest, showing off some unbelievable great looking kings and queens.
After a very close race in the Queen contest, “Miss Kitty”, Wayne Knight from Okanagan Falls is the newly crowned queen. The King contest was won by “Chilcott Charlie”, Kathy Johnson from Ashcroft.
The contents was followed by another great night of dancing and on Sunday morning, before the parade, the Barriere Branch put on a breakfast - another job well done by members of the Branch, including some of the “guys”. During the breakfast prizes were handed out; golfers trophies, bubbly stuff and prizes for the trail ride. The Mike Boscott vest was won by Faith Tilton, the most valuable volunteer bra and Brian Tillotson vest was won by Eileen Miers for the most valuable volunteer, and a quilt hanging for her dedicated volunteer efforts was awarded to Kelly Searle. The Barriere Legion would like to thank all the volunteers who helped with the gavel passing.