INNISFAIL – On April 22, Dean Turnquist was overseeing the 26th annual Spring Fever Road Hockey Tournament.
It’s an endeavour and mission that supports the Helping Hand Fund that operates under a mandate that no child should be excluded from sport because of limited finances.
And now Turnquist – Innisfail’s 2018 Citizen of the Year - has an added mission. He is the new manager of Innisfail’s most honoured institution, the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion Branch #104.
The 50-year-old Turnquist said one reason he pursued the legion’s available manager’s position was because of his background in communications and business.
“My whole life activities have happened in and around the community at the legion and, and when this opportunity came up, I thought, ‘hey, my background could help and maybe move the Legion out of the COVID hangover that's there,” said Turnquist, who was doing government contract work before his interest in the legion position. “This is a chance to be back and working with people face to face, which is something that I've missed for a while.”
He also is well aware the local legion, which has one of the highest membership numbers of any in the country, has been an important social centre over many decades for countless citizens, past and present.
“That building touches on so many people in the community, both as a user group and a facility people can rent, as well as a destination place to come and eat, and a good place to have a drink and enjoy entertainment,” he said.
Turnquist took over the legion’s managerial duties in early March after Don Harrison, a former legion full-time manager, looked after the institution on an interim basis until a new permanent one could be found.
He was also aware of the many changes made at the legion, notably the new and popular wrestling nights that Harrison brought in.
“I'm not looking to come in and change anything. I just want to continue to build on the good work that's there, things like wrestling and the feature things, like the dinner and shows,” said Turnquist. “I think we want to try to keep that, and more than anything, just get the word out that we're open for business, like every business in Innisfail.
“Coming out of COVID people are looking for something to do,” he added. “We want to let them know the legion is a place you can come and enjoy with your friends and family and be part of the community again.”
With just over a month under his belt Turnquist concedes there is a learning curve to overcome but he’s also confident the legion will remain as an essential place to be in town.
He points to the Thursday bingos and the Monday dart league action, as well as the planned mural project for the legion’s exterior that will soon start, and the upcoming national Dominion 8-Ball Pool Tournament in May that will attract teams from across the country.
“We just want to reach out to our membership that have been great support for us in the past, and reengage with them,” said Turnquist. “And then search for those new members that want to be a part of something special in our community.”
