Saint John Hosting 2022 Royal Canadian Legion Dominion Convention
SAINT JOHN – The Port City will be playing host to the 2022 Royal Canadian Legion Dominion Convention.
It sounds a long ways away, because it kind of is – but there’s a reason for that.
Held every two years, the Dominion Convention brings representatives from each of the Provincial Commands together to meet. As the convention will bring over 1,100 people to the city for six nights, a lot of pre-planning is required – that’s why the convention is scheduled so far in advance.
Shawnna Dickie-Garnhum of Discover Saint John said they’ve been in talks with the legion about hosting the event for a while now, but a tour last October helped to seal the deal.
“We showed them all the hotels, all the facilities, some of the restaurants, just a feel for uptown,” Dickie-Garnhum said. “We gave them a tour of the outskirts of the city, as much as we could show them over a weekend.”
On Dec. 1 it was announced Saint John would play host to the 2022 convention.
The event is expected to bring $1.3 million into the city. Dickie-Garnhum said this would be the biggest convention she’s ever worked on and will be one of the largest the city has seen.
Delta Brunswick senior sales manager Debbie Touchie was on the committee to help bring the conference to Saint John. She says it’s a big deal for local business and tourism.
“It’s huge. It’s great revenue for the hotel obviously. I like that fact that it creates a buzz,” Touchie said. “When you get that many people in the city . . . when the shops, bars and restaurants are full, it really lifts you.”
The convention will take place in mid-August 2020. Dickie-Garnhum said they are still in the early planning stages.