Photo: Darren Handschuh

Vernon Legion president Bill Balcaen said a new executive has been elected, saving the legion.

The Vernon Legion is saved.

After the entire executive announced earlier this year that they were stepping down at the end of April, there was some concern the institute would close its doors after nearly 100 years of service in the community.

But Legion 25 President Bill Balcaen said enough people have stepped up to form a new executive.

“We elected a new slate of officers last night,” said Balcaen who has been involved with Legion executive in various capacities for six years.

“We have been doing this for six years, and we're all very tired,” said Balcaen of why the executive is stepping down.

If a new executive was not secured by the end of April, the local legion would have closed its doors.

And that would have meant an end to long-time initiatives like the annual poppy campaign, bursaries and other programs.

“The concern got out through the media there was a chance we could lose the Vernon Legion. It rocked people back a little bit I think,” said Balcaen Wednesday. “This is great. We certainly didn't want to see it go down.”

Balcaen will assume the role of immediate past president and will still attend every meeting to pass along his expertise, but the bulk of the work will be done by the new president who has yet to be announced.