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The Melfort Legion will play host to their third annual New Year's Day Levee.(Angie Rolheiser/northeastNOW Staff)
New Year, New Decade

Melfort Legion to host third annual New Year’s Day Levee

Dec 31, 2019 | 3:01 PM

For the third year in a row, the Melfort Legion is ringing in the new year and the new decade with their New Year’s Day levee.

Legion Comrade Jim Graham said they began the event in Melfort three years ago.

“In the Canadian Forces, levees are annual events and wherever there is a Canadian Unit as well the Governor General holds one in Ottawa and Lieutenant Governors in each province so we thought it would be a good thing to start in Melfort,” Graham said.

The levee was started in France and later adopted by Britain and, by extension, Canada.

Festivities get underway at 11 a.m. at the legion, with a receiving line at 11:30 a.m.

“Generally, it takes tradition of welcoming people and providing some small fare,” Graham said.

Clam chowder, open face sandwiches and moose milk is to be served until 1 p.m. Moose milk is an old Canadian Forces recipe according to Graham.

Legion members along with friends from the Melfort area are all welcome to attend the event that grows each year.

“The first year we had about 40 people, and last year we jumped up to 70 so we are hoping for an improvement again on that this year,” Graham said.

The all ages gathering is just $10 an adult, $5 for ages 13 to 18, and kids get in for free.

“It’s a nice way to say hello to friends and neighbours and family at the start of the new year and of course this year we are ringing in a new decade,” Graham said.

This year also marks 75 years since the end of the war.

angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser

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