Belt Drive Betty's Blog

Stripping away our Charter Rights and Freedoms: The Royal Canadian Legion, the Police and the slippery slope of discrimination.

Belt Drive 0 Discrimination, Liquor Control Act, Police Services, Royal Canadian Legion, Veterans 7:54 AM

The new narrative of the Royal Canadian Legion's Dominion Command is a disappointing one. <br />
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It started because a police officer took offence to a veteran wearing motorcycle garb at a Remembrance Day event while also wearing his medals. The police officer called it disrespectful and after discussions the Dominion Command of the Royal Canadian Legion decided to adopt a ban on "outlaw" clubs...<br />
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Let me go back in time a bit...<br />
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In the late 40's, after WWII a lot of veterans came back missing the camaraderie of those they had worked with, and needing adrenaline fixes to keep the PTSD at bay (they called it shell shock back then).<br />
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A lot of veterans took up motorcycle riding and today, our highways are filled with veterans who ride motorcycle to ease the pain in their head and more.<br />
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A lot of these veterans have joined male only motorcycle clubs that are generally comprised of a small knit group of like minded people. They support each other just like they did when they were in combat. They have each other's back, they eat together, ride together, drink and party together. They stay to themselves for the most part, because they want to be with peers who understand, without having to say a word.<br />
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I truly understand that whole world these days and in ways I never thought possible.<br />
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It's the same world that Firefighters belong to, where peer to peer counselling is a big part of what goes on after a fire because there is a credibility the person you are talking to has when you fought a fire side by side  with them or you fed them....When I spiralled into an 8 month PTSD pit of hell in May of 2017 after the first anniversary of Fort Mac's wildfire, I couldn't afford counselling. It was the guys from Wood Buffalo that literally talked me off the ledge twice during that 8 months and I credit them with why I am still here today.<br />
<br />
I was that close to going down the rabbit hole. <br />
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It is for that reason that many veterans choose to ride in close knit groups with a vetting period to ensure that the person they let into their fold is going to have their back when they wig out. <br />
There really is nothing more sinister than that going on in 99% of these clubs.<br />
<br />
The problem with a lot of riding clubs - one piece patch outfits - there is no vetting period - you buy your patch and you attend or don't attend events and rides. There are a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences but very seldom do they and the veteran truly have much in common. A lot of the time, because the supporters don't know how to handle PTSD etc., there is a large ebb and flow of membership, this is not what most veterans are looking for, they are looking for consistency, stability in an otherwise unstable world.<br />
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A person who has never experienced PTSD has no clue how to deal with the psychological traumas that some of these people have. Being around people who don't understand makes some of these veterans pull away, become anti social etc...<br />
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All three piece patches are not created equally and this is not an issue about 1% clubs like the Hells Angels or the Outlaws or support clubs like the Dirty Few.  Those clubs, they don't give a rats arse about the average rider. Individually I know some members of those clubs, and they have always treated me with consideration and respect, however, in the grand scheme of things, I am no one in their world and neither is the average rider.<br />
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I am not here to judge who is a criminal and who is not. I know that there are members of 1% clubs who don't have so much as speeding tickets because that's who they are as a person. I work hard not to generalize as generalizations lead to profiling which is what the police appear to do in our community on a regular basis.<br />
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I have two uncles who were RCMP officers and they definitely did not like the Rock Machine, the Angels, the Popeyes but...they did not deny the rest of the riders in the country their charter rights to try and nab what they deemed to be the bad guys. They did sound police work to get their "man".<br />
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Why the Royal Canadian Legion has decided to do just that is beyond me: take away the charter rights of VETERANS - the very people they are sworn to serve...<br />
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UNLESS YOU WEAR SOMETHING WE DON'T LIKE</div>
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A person I know who wears the patch of a Veterans MC was asked to leave a licensed establishment for wearing his colours on date night with his wife just a few weeks ago.<br />
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He is not a criminal, his Motorcycle Club is not a gang. BUT because the waitress knows she stands to face $10K in penalties and or up to 6 months in jail for serving "outlaws"....well, she asked him to take his cut off or leave and he didn't want to do either so the cops were called. <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Nice right, a veteran, eating dinner with his spouse... let that sink in...</span></b><br />
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He wasn't fighting, he wasn't disrupting the other patrons, he was having a nice dinner with his WIFE.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b>It's for people like him that I am standing up and putting my butt on the line with my Legion Membership.</b></h3>
Please people, educate yourselves about the fear mongering and what the penalties are for volunteers, waiting staff and owners...here are just a few of the penalties in the province of Alberta for serving someone you are not supposed to under the act:<br />
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A waitress can face up to $10,000 and or 6 months in jail.<br />
An owner can face up to $50K in fines and temporary closures and as high as $200K in fines and loss of license.<br />
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I am not fear mongering here.<br />
These are the laws in Alberta, check it out in your province unless you live in Saskatchewan where this law does not apply because it was struck down in 2009 as unconstitutional. (<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/saskatchewan-gang-colours-law-1.3953848">http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/saskatchewan-gang-colours-law-1.3953848</a>).<br />
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If you serve a member of a "gang" who is wearing their "colours" you can face the fines above if you get the right police officer because under the liquor control act, they are considered liquor inspectors.<br />
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So, out of the 5,000 or so Motorcycle Clubs in the world, how many are considered criminal or unwanted by the police?<br />
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And how many get tarred with that brush simply because they have asked for permission to wear a three piece patch instead of doing what the Iron Order did in the US and just stand themselves up, don't talk to the dominants and create turf wars everywhere?<br />
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Our Traditional MC's get penalized for being considerate and polite and NOT CAUSING TURF WARS, by the police who try to make it look like these guys are in bed with what the police consider to be a criminal entity.<br />
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So folks - this petition I started is not about standing up for the 1% clubs.<br />
They can and will do that for themselves.<br />
My assistance is not needed by them, neither is yours.<br />
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No, this is about standing up against <b>Patchwearerphobia</b> (Similar to Islamaphobia which is now illegal in this country).<br />
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Our Charter of Rights and Freedoms under the Constitution Act of 1982:<br />
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<h2 class="Subheading" id="h-41" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.28px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-top: 0.7em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; widows: 2;">
Fundamental Freedoms</h2>
<h6 class="MarginalNote" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.85em; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-top: 1.2em; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span class="wb-invisible" style="box-sizing: border-box; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); height: 1px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; width: 1px;">Marginal note:</span>Fundamental freedoms</h6>
<div class="Section" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.7em; orphans: 2; text-indent: 1.5em; widows: 2;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" id="s-2." style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #295376;">2.</a></strong> Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:</div>
<ul class="ProvisionList" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; widows: 2;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="Paragraph" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-top: 0.7em;">
(<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">a</em>) freedom of conscience and religion;</div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="Paragraph" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-top: 0.7em;">
(<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">b</em>) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;</div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="Paragraph" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-top: 0.7em;">
(<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">c</em>) freedom of peaceful assembly; and</div>
</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="Paragraph" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-top: 0.7em;">
(<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">d</em>) freedom of association.</div>
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<div class="Paragraph" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-top: 0.7em;">
AND</div>
<h2 class="Subheading" id="h-45" style="border-bottom-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: 17.28px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-top: 0.7em; text-align: center;">
Equality Rights</h2>
<h6 class="MarginalNote" style="border-bottom-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.85em; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-top: 1.2em;">
<span class="wb-invisible" style="box-sizing: border-box; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px); height: 1px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; width: 1px;">Marginal note:</span>Equality before and under law and equal protection and benefit of law</h6>
<ul class="ProvisionList" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-ligatures: normal; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="Subsection" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.7em; text-indent: 1.5em;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" id="s-15." style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #295376;">15.</a></strong> (1) Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.</div>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
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I feel for the waitress or volunteer who tells someone they must either take off their clothing or leave.<br />
I feel for the person whose Charter Freedoms are being stripped away.<br />
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Why is this happening?<br />
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<b>It's a police narrative and agenda.</b><br />
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PLEASE - SIGN OUR PETITION: <a href="https://www.thepetitionsite.com/290/964/087/demand-a-reversal-of-the-motorcycle-colours-amp-logos-ban-in-all-royal-canadian-legions-in-canada/">https://www.thepetitionsite.com/290/964/087/demand-a-reversal-of-the-motorcycle-colours-amp-logos-ban-in-all-royal-canadian-legions-in-canada/</a><br />
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The Legion's general meeting is in August.<br />
I am trying to reserve my personal decision on staying or leaving until that meeting transpires.<br />
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I love our branch president here in GP and the relationship that I have with our region 1 commander. is wonderful. I really don't want to loose that.<br />
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I do not love what the organization's command has decided.  I think they have forgotten that a Veteran is a Veteran - their clothing choices do not cancel out their service to our country.<br />
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What say you?<br />
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Belt Drive Betty<br />
Editor & Rider<br />
<br />
Don't forget our Father's Day Contest....<br />
<br />
Win some <a href="https://www.haupysbeaverrub.ca/" target="_blank">Haupy's Beaver Rub</a> by snapping a photo of the "dad" in your life at the BBQ...<br />
and then Like our page: CanadianMotorcycleEvents on Facebook.<br />
(Please, rub responsibly and remember, this rub is not for use on live beavers)<br />
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Stripping away our Charter Rights and Freedoms: The Royal Canadian Legion, the Police and the slippery slope of discrimination.

The new narrative of the Royal Canadian Legion's Dominion Command is a disappointing one. It started because a police officer took off...

7th Annual UN NATO Canada Veterans – Edmonton Crew’s Show and Shine and BBQ

Belt Drive 0 Alberta, Edmonton, Edmonton Alberta, Kipnes House, Show n Shine, Support Our Troops, UN-NATO 12:08 PM

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<b>7<sup>th</sup> Annual UN NATO Canada Veterans – Edmonton Crew’s Show and Shine and BBQ</b><br />
by Ray Ralph of the Harley-Davidson Edmonton Community & Mayor of Devon</div>
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I was fortunate to attend this years 7<sup>th</sup> annual UN NATO Canada Veterans – Edmonton Crew’s Show and Shine and BBQ which was held at the Kipnes Centre for Veterans.<br />
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The Kipnes Centre is home to more than 80 veterans, with the eldest turning 101 years old this year. The centre provides 24/7 nursing care as well as other support such as physiotherapy, recreation
therapy, occupational therapy, social worker, dietician, music therapy and
spiritual care. The centre itself has 100 registered volunteers. This years one
day event raised approximately $2540 which was generated through the
registration fees for the show and shine, silent auction, 50/50 draw and the
cost of the BBQ for non-residents. I must give a big hat’s off to everyone who
made this event such a success, especially the two key organizers Don and
Sheila.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgneGgEz-SM-guNl8QpRqGPbDdNUM2gTqnFoeL0qa7tNHC4vE3l6NUr-k7mpV2y_TGwYwPQe0GPzQe1HWYLSLZ7sgZcHfwZCS5Tch797YNQ_-jHflOtEQtiuCBV1Q0iPxQZjZPw/s1600/FB_IMG_1527602913826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1165" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgneGgEz-SM-guNl8QpRqGPbDdNUM2gTqnFoeL0qa7tNHC4vE3l6NUr-k7mpV2y_TGwYwPQe0GPzQe1HWYLSLZ7sgZcHfwZCS5Tch797YNQ_-jHflOtEQtiuCBV1Q0iPxQZjZPw/s200/FB_IMG_1527602913826.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHckKNaf4bLF6kHmakKpWzpGWmfwRqXb4NyHDrcXnIKFTyP828cx4ybO8KeyrBY0A9KJlKLPZt3dJBkXycLYHQ8ppff8B9hyphenhyphenFOEVriYWlydpyVgPpBV5RflrNwMxEFRrt1zjF1/s1600/FB_IMG_1527602999003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1134" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHckKNaf4bLF6kHmakKpWzpGWmfwRqXb4NyHDrcXnIKFTyP828cx4ybO8KeyrBY0A9KJlKLPZt3dJBkXycLYHQ8ppff8B9hyphenhyphenFOEVriYWlydpyVgPpBV5RflrNwMxEFRrt1zjF1/s200/FB_IMG_1527602999003.jpg" width="200" /></a>The event started with several of the members of the Edmonton Crew meeting at the Edmonton Garrison and then arriving at the same time on their motorcycles which created lots of excitement for the residents to kick off the afternoon of activities. Mother nature was good this year and the weather was terrific for enjoying a BBQ. The UN NATO Canada Edmonton crew took care of all the supplies including doing all the cooking of the burgers and Hot Dogs and offer’s the BBQ to the residents at no cost to them. The Show & Shine portion of the event had 16 bikes and 4 classic vehicles registered.<br />
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There were also two gentlemen who were offering rides to the residents in their Urals which was a giant hit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoH0XGqPYzmUu57f26ysARvRLBkx3Tn2_KMw2Ad7r_yDk2PFlLzFx5ygwLKcFeRRBnE6bq-pfmVlvwaeDSB8K-61rF_WBOdOAAsU219VTa1mKUGQH0JHDN3YzQWPimpiRiee_/s1600/FB_IMG_1527602989418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1138" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoH0XGqPYzmUu57f26ysARvRLBkx3Tn2_KMw2Ad7r_yDk2PFlLzFx5ygwLKcFeRRBnE6bq-pfmVlvwaeDSB8K-61rF_WBOdOAAsU219VTa1mKUGQH0JHDN3YzQWPimpiRiee_/s200/FB_IMG_1527602989418.jpg" width="200" /></a>It is great to see some of the increased mobility equipment and other purchases that the centre has been able to make over the years for the residents through these fund-raising activities. As one of the Board members of the Kipnes Centre stated at the event. “without these funds raised through these events they would not have the money to purchase these items”. </div>
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You can see and feel the appreciation from the staff, residents and their families when you look around the room when the prizes for the Show and Shine are being presented and the announcement of the additional funds generated to assist with additional purchases in the future.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhyphenhyphen6XShTBuNc6qwJISL7EQpcBRaSCOM0mz0xsZp9qi7VsghWTTeWUZvR-9yDxIObdA9dqMpYjAUT_znEQy-f2oygvlJzuAG4SBX01z_Uy6MivHEk5ng2J-4Tf96TRLX3y_LgM/s1600/FB_IMG_1527523505986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1407" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhyphenhyphen6XShTBuNc6qwJISL7EQpcBRaSCOM0mz0xsZp9qi7VsghWTTeWUZvR-9yDxIObdA9dqMpYjAUT_znEQy-f2oygvlJzuAG4SBX01z_Uy6MivHEk5ng2J-4Tf96TRLX3y_LgM/s200/FB_IMG_1527523505986.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSH5_MzNzOvCAjNiu6LMTHVeertJv1NZx5AeaP-84RpbUWnQKqytjhq457dSC0wblhrJjC7sl7CW38DG5Gnlnr-vaajSdFbEe3MOLDy2mUNzY14sVGJXQS-7-1FbHK6XHR6fb/s1600/FB_IMG_1527523518468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1376" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSH5_MzNzOvCAjNiu6LMTHVeertJv1NZx5AeaP-84RpbUWnQKqytjhq457dSC0wblhrJjC7sl7CW38DG5Gnlnr-vaajSdFbEe3MOLDy2mUNzY14sVGJXQS-7-1FbHK6XHR6fb/s200/FB_IMG_1527523518468.jpg" width="200" /></a>This year was my second year of being able to attend this
event and present a cheque to the UN NATO Canada Veterans – Edmonton Crew in
support of the Kipnes Centre on behalf of the Edmonton Harley Davidson
Motorcycle Community through our Calendar sales and Annual Motorcycle Fashion
show. In 2018 the E.H.D.M.C. has raised over $11,000.00 for the centre.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSH5_MzNzOvCAjNiu6LMTHVeertJv1NZx5AeaP-84RpbUWnQKqytjhq457dSC0wblhrJjC7sl7CW38DG5Gnlnr-vaajSdFbEe3MOLDy2mUNzY14sVGJXQS-7-1FbHK6XHR6fb/s1600/FB_IMG_1527523518468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>If it wasn’t for these men and women who put their lives on
the line for us we would not be enjoying the freedom we have today. I am hoping
that the Edmonton Crew hold another event next year</div>
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Photos by Ray Ralph, Gerald Maximilien & Charles Issaacs<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYSgpGpdl31APsxOOUQWanoKffFknlYInnggGe_zljX9yNZCSiP3xNQ5VDzvHcLd9_Zg5NCztLgWEVoX9e2NBqfKwjAnP51VhETCjdjTnPsDpwYYaO4X5TZmkA2Em7RCuwAuz/s1600/FB_IMG_1527376722656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYSgpGpdl31APsxOOUQWanoKffFknlYInnggGe_zljX9yNZCSiP3xNQ5VDzvHcLd9_Zg5NCztLgWEVoX9e2NBqfKwjAnP51VhETCjdjTnPsDpwYYaO4X5TZmkA2Em7RCuwAuz/s200/FB_IMG_1527376722656.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>