Province supporting construction of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 and refurbishment of Wawanosh Monument in Sault Ste. Marie
SAULT STE. MARIE — As part of the Ontario government’s plan to build a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant northern economy, as well as to acknowledge the residential school system and its impact on Indigenous peoples, the Province has invested more than $2.2 million through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to rebuild Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 and restore the Wawanosh Monument in Sault Ste. Marie.
“This investment supports an important community hub in Sault Ste. Marie that provides services and programming to war veterans, members of the Canadian Armed Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police and their families,” said George Pirie, Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth. “It also honours victims and survivors of the residential school system in Canada by providing a quiet place for reflection.”
“The NOHFC continues to serve as a catalyst for growth and development in Sault Ste. Marie and across Northern Ontario,” said Will Bouma, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth. “Today’s investment is providing vital health and wellness services to veterans and members of the military, while also redeveloping a space for the community to acknowledge a former residential school site.”
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 received $2 million in NOHFC funding to rebuild its facility on the ground floor of a newly constructed multi-level residential complex at 96 Great Northern Road. The legion space, which can be rented to generate revenue for the branch, includes a hall, museum, restaurant, meeting rooms and an administrative area.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 also received $232,693 in NOHFC funding to restore the Wawanosh Monument, which commemorates the Wawanosh Indian Residential School, formerly located where the legion stands today. The restoration included installing shaded sitting areas, Indigenous-themed laser-cut privacy screens, a water feature, inground lighting, paving, boulders, native perennials and shrubs to create a safe space for community members and visitors to gather and reflect.
“The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 want to express our sincere and heartfelt thanks to the Provincial Government, our MPP’S office, board members and volunteers for the grant,” said Pierre Breckenridge, President, Branch 25 Royal Canadian Legion. “We are truly grateful you saw the vision and potential we saw to reconstitute Branch 25 Legion. We have successfully demonstrated the power of collaboration between, Private, Not for Profit and the government. Thanks to Sam Biasucci, his partners and SalDan Construction, we were able to meet the grant requirements that allowed us to furnish and fill our spectacular new building. Veterans, Legion members and the general public will benefit. The Children of Shingwauk, along with Branch 25 Legion, would also like to thank and acknowledge the generous grant that allowed us to create the enhanced Wawanosh memorial project. Once again, the partnership between The Children of Shingwauk, RCL Branch 25, SalDan, numerous contractors and the NOHFC grant built the structure. It also built the partnership and friendship going forward. The opportunity, possibilities and economic benefits are still expanding. Both projects have led to positive economic outcomes. Branch 25 Legion is proud of the building and community we created with our partners.”
“Through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, our government is making targeted investments that support both economic development and community resilience across the North,” said Chris Scott, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie. “Today’s funding for Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 reflects that mission — supporting the restoration of the Wawanosh Monument, an important marker of Indigenous history and advancing construction of a new service area that will expand the Legion’s role as a vital gathering place in Sault Ste. Marie. These projects honour our past while building for the future. This support speaks to what matters here: preserving local history, strengthening community spaces and ensuring the stories that shaped us are never lost. These investments will have a lasting impact — socially, culturally, and economically.”
Announced in June 2025, the Ontario government is refocusing the NOHFC to prioritize investments that protect northern industries and jobs, mitigate the impacts of U.S. tariffs and trade disruptions and secure new opportunities for the long-term prosperity of Northern Ontario. The renewed focus is driving prosperity, boosting competitiveness, securing new opportunities and ensuring the North remains a leader in Ontario’s economy. This new direction is in addition to the province’s recently announced investment of an additional $30 million over the next three years, bringing the NOHFC’s annual budget to a total of $110 million. Together, these initiatives will benefit communities of all sizes, both rural and urban, including Indigenous communities.
Quick Facts
- Through its funding programs, the NOHFC offers support to public and private sector economic development projects across Northern Ontario.
- Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $905 million in 7,309 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $2.8 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 11,210 jobs.
Additional Resources
- The NOHFC, Northern Development Offices and Small Business Enterprise Centres support northern communities, businesses and other stakeholders in identifying economic development opportunities and government funding programs.
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