Could the Royal Canadian Legion be part of the housing solution? One branch is already reimagining its future

As the Royal Canadian Legion approaches its 100th anniversary, one branch is using the milestone to sustain itself for the future and be part of the solution to the national housing crisis.

The Bala Legion Heritage Manor, located in Bala, Muskoka Lakes, is a proposed mixed-use redevelopment that transforms a legion property into a new, modern home for the branch, topped by four storeys of rental housing.

The project was designed by WZMH Architects  in Toronto, and is part of an overall concept called Elevate, where designers aim to turn underutilized sites into mixed-use community hubs.

Zenon Radewych, principal at WZMH Architects said many legion sites are in need of repair and the development is a way to densify the sites and cost-effective solutions. 

"Many of the sites are not energy efficient, and whether they relocate into a new building or not, there's opportunities for revenue to be generated for the legion, to sustain it for the next 100 years,” he said.

The rebuild of the legion facility is being partly funded by the province, while the federal government is contributing through the Build Canada Homes Agency  — a fund to help construct affordable housing across the country. The development also has the support of the municipality of Muskoka Lakes, which is helping to fast-track the project.

In Muskoka, the municipality is investing in building more affordable housing for the population that needs it. Muskoka's district chair, Jeff Lehman, told CBC Radio last summer  that with the area being a desirable spot, land is quite expensive, and many who live and work in the region struggle to find affordable rentals.

Nearly 30 per cent of the redevelopment’s units are marked as affordable housing and 20 per cent are accessible. Above the new design, 128 rental apartments will aim to provide much-needed housing in Muskoka. 

"It will have a new restaurant, bar and ceremonial space," said Maryam Madsen, senior designer at the firm. "We also talked about using local materials like wood and stone, so that it reflects Muskoka," she said.

Radewych said the concept sprang from noting sites around Toronto situated near public transportation that have great potential for housing, and has since expanded to other sites outside of the city.

He said when the firm connected with the legion in Bala, they were all on the same page about the goals for the future of the site, and looked into a similar redevelopment of a legion in British Columbia. 

Radewych said the firm has reached out to around 20 other branches to discuss collaborating.

Dennis Mills, president of the branch, said its members unanimously agreed to the new design and the hope is that the development serves as a blueprint to reimagine other legions across Canada.

"There are 1350 legions across Canada; in large cities, small communities and hamlets," Mills said. "And many of those legions have excess land and they all could be there to help in the revitalization of affordable housing right across the country."