Royal Canadian Legion Branch 29 since 1926

Continuing our new weekly series on longstanding establishments in Paris, it is an opportune moment to delve into the rich history of the Paris Legion and the Cenotaph, both of which have been integral parts of our downtown area since the 1930s.

In the aftermath of the First World War, several veterans' groups and associations representing former service members emerged Among them were those representing the approximately 600 men and women from the Paris region who had served during the war. Tragically, 91 of them lost their lives or suffered mortal wounds, and an additional 4 succumbed to diseases or accidents. A significant number of these casualties, 18 in total, occurred after August 20, 1918, during the final allied offensive. According to the Star Transcript, the last Parisian to make the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of freedom and justice was Private William English, who was killed on October 18, 1918. It is worth noting that William Street, commemorates his name and 70 William St. is the ancestral home of Franklin Smoke. Born on

August 24, 1860, (in South Dumfries Township) Franklin Smoke was a Conservative member of the House of Commons of Canada. Smoke pursued a career as a barrister after attending public and secondary schools in Paris, Ontario. He furthered his education at Osgoode Hall Law School and was appointed King's Counsel in 1908 Although his bid for provincial office in the 1919 Ontario election proved unsuccessful, Smoke achieved success in the 1925 Federal election, securing a parliamentary seat for the Brant riding. He was re-elected in 1926 and 1930 but faced defeat in the 1935 election.

Franklin Smoke passed away in 1937, leaving his home to accommodate the Paris Legion

Initially, the Legion's primary objective was to give a strong voice to First World War veterans However, the outbreak of the Second World War brought forth new challenges Consequently, the Legion expanded its efforts to provide dedicated support to veterans and those currently serving abroad Today, the Legion continues its mission of enhancing the lives of veterans, including the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, as well as their families. "This has been their core objective since their establishment, and they remain steadfast in their commitment to it, both today and in the future "