Paris Royal Canadian Legion Branch 29 is preparing to mark a milestone of both local and national importance. In 2026, the Paris Legion will celebrate its 100th anniversary, coinciding with the centennial of the Royal Canadian Legion of Canada. Founded in 1926, Branch 29 has been a cornerstone of the Paris community for a century.
Beyond its well-known role in supporting veterans, the Legion has long championed youth initiatives, senior programs, and countless community events. Its home at 70 William Street, once the Franklin Smoke house, has become a gathering place for remembrance, fellowship, and service.
Franklin Smoke (August 24, 1860 – 1937) was a prominent Canadian figure born in South Dumfries Township, Ontario. A dedicated Conservative, he served as a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of Canada from 1900 to 1908. Smoke was known for his long-term commitment to public service.
The 100th anniversary will be marked with a year-long calendar of projects and special events that both honour the sacrifices of veterans and strengthen ties within the community. While the official centennial takes place in October 2026, the celebration will stretch across the year with much fun and frivolity including teas, story nights, wine & cheese, art exhibitions, entertainment and open houses. A special veteran’s crosswalk will be installed in downtown Paris near the cenotaph as part of the anniversary and a broader County of Brant initiative to install veteran’s crosswalks at various Legion locations county-wide. This will offer a visible reminder of the contributions and sacrifices of local veterans.
The Paris Legion 100th Anniversary Fibre Art Quilt
One of the most meaningful projects is the Paris Legion 100th Anniversary Fibre Art Quilt, a vibrant work of text by Brantford artist and former Paris resident Donna Campbell.
Commissioned for the centennial, the fibre art quilt reflects the town’s history, landmarks, and enduring connection to veterans. The imagery includes the Normandy beaches, the Paris Cenotaph, and the Franklin Smoke house, alongside archival news stories such as one featuring local resident Henry Foster.
Campbell, who began work in August of 2024, spent nine months refining the piece in her studio, guided by both historical research and her own artistic vision.
Anniversary Committee member Cheryl Humphrey praised Campbell’s commitment. “Donna’s artistic mind and soul took flight, and she spent the next nine months working on her piece. She is a truly gifted individual with a large heart and a strong love of nature in Paris.”
The fiber art quilt will tour the community and region, allowing residents and visitors to reflect on its themes of remembrance and heritage. Stops include:
August 27 – September 1, 2025 – Paris Fair
October 9, 2025 – Women Inspiring Women – Women’s Institute, Paris Fairgrounds
October 30, 2025 – Adelaide Hunter Hoodless
November 6, 2025 – Paris Public Library
November 7 to 11, 2025 – In-house at Branch 29 for Remembrance Week
November / December 2025 – Paris Museum and Historical Society
May 2026 – Canadian Military Heritage Museum, Brantford, as part of celebrations marking the Canadian Liberation of the Netherlands
The fibre art quilt also hopes to visit Park Lane, Telfer Place, and Queensview retirement homes in Paris, ensuring residents across the community can experience its artistry.
Culture Days Events: Stitching Together a Legacy
The centennial celebrations begin this September with two free public events being simultaneously hosted at the branch as part of the Ontario’s Culture Days festival which runs across the province from September 19 until October 12, 2025.
The Poppy Stitch Along & Fibre Art Quilt Exhibition – September 20, 2025 – 1:00PM to 4:00PM. The event is free and accessible, with optional pay-what-you-can donations. Parking at the Legion is limited; please consider carpooling. See culturedays.ca for more information.
At the Poppy Stitch Along, participants can learn to knit or crochet yarn poppies. Already, more than 1,600 handmade poppies have been created by volunteers across the community. The completed poppies will be affixed to netting creating a blanket that will
then be draped and displayed across monuments and landmarks in Paris. Attendees that don’t crochet or knit will have the chance to attach a poppy to the netting themselves, contributing directly to the large community display.The project recalls the spirit of quilting bees of earlier generations and echoes wartime traditions of knitting socks, mitts and vests for soldiers overseas. The Stitch Along & Fibre Art Quilt Exhibition will be a lively social gathering with door prizes and refreshments; the Legion bar will be open.
Year-Long Anniversary Celebrations
In addition to the Culture Days projects, Branch 29 is planning a series of events running until the 100th Anniversary in October of 2026, including:
Wine & Cheese
Poppy Tea
Centennial Open House
Story Afternoon / Evening with veterans and community members sharing personal stories and memories.
… and many more planned and in the works!
Supporting the Anniversary
These anniversary projects and celebrations are not only commemorations of a century of service but also tributes to the community spirit that continues to define Paris and its Legion. For a century, the Paris Legion has stood as a place of welcome, remembrance, and community spirit. It is where stories are shared, friendships are built, and the sacrifices of veterans are honored with dignity and gratitude. As the Legion enters its next hundred years, it continues to support veterans, youth, and seniors while providing a gathering place for all. Your support helps ensure this vital work carries on. The Paris Legion is more than a building – it is a family, a history, and a promise to remember.
How to Donate: Paris Legion Branch 29 • 70 William Street, Paris, Ontario, N3L 1L6 • In person, by cheque, or via e-transfer to parislegion29@rogers.com Please clearly mark donations “Anniversary”.
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SIDEBAR BOX: DATES AT A GLANCE
September 20, 2025 – Poppy Stitch Along & Fibre Art Quilt Exhibition at the Legion
October 9, 2025 – Fibre Art Quilt at Women Inspiring Women Women’s Institute, Paris Fairgrounds
October 30, 2025 – Fibre Art Quilt at Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Heritage Site cont/ …
November 6, 2025 – Fibre Art Quilt at Paris Public Library
November 7 to 11, 2025 – Fibre Art Quilt in-house at Paris Legion Branch 29 for Remembrance Week
November / December 2025 – Fibre Art Quilt at Paris Museum and Historical Society
December 2025 – Wine & Cheese at the Branch
May 2026 – Fibre Art Quilt at Canadian Military Heritage Museum, Brantford, Liberation of Holland celebration
Dates to be Determined:
Poppy Tea
Centennial Open House
Story Afternoon / Evening with veterans and community members sharing personal stories and memories.
… and many more events to come!
Story by Rosemary Rich
