INNISFAIL – It was last June 19 when longtime Innisfailian Wally Genz decided he needed a career change.
Genz, 51, had been a correctional manager at Bowden Institution with more than 20 years of service but he wanted a new career opportunity.
And then it was just over a month later when he saw an online ad for an open managerial position.
His life was about to change.
“I am really community driven. When I read the job description it was like a perfect fit,” said Genz. “The managerial side of things you need to know, community engagement, involvement, knowing the contacts, and so I ran with that.”
But this was not an opportunity put out by just any organization.
It was for the key manager position at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #104 in Innisfail, a cherished institution that was granted its first charter in 1919 by the Great War Veterans Association (GWVA) of Canada, and then again in 1930 when the GWVA was replaced by the Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service League.
“The legion's always been a strong community supporter and a hub, so when I saw the opportunity to apply, I did, and the rest is history,” said Genz.
He officially became the institution’s manager on Aug. 6, taking over from the departing Dean Turnquist, who had been legion manager since March of 2023.
The Innisfail legion branch has long been in the top three in Canada as having one of the largest and most dedicated memberships in the country.
There are now up to 1,400 members, and despite diminishing figures in other areas of the country branch #104 remains critically important in town, its social heartbeat.
The institution’s lengthy list of events and activities fit every age category, from bingo, meat draws, dances, seasonal farmers’ markets, and the wildly popular monthly Can-Am Wrestling shows.
And of course there is always the Innisfail legion’s 4,000 square-foot clubroom, lounge and game room, complete with billiards tables, dart boards, shuffleboards, and a stage for live entertainment.
To maintain the popularity for the local institution there needs to be someone in charge who has a strong connection to the community with solid managerial and organizational skills.
Genz’s resume speaks to having all of that.
Outside of his managerial experience at the Bowden Institution Genz has been heavily involved in Innisfail’s minor sports community, and that includes establishing executive boards for two different sports.
He has a long history of volunteerism with Innisfail minor football and more recently with the Mavericks of Innisfail, a highly successful junior lacrosse team at the local and provincial levels that he now supports by being an assistant coach and team board member.
“With that experience, as far as budgeting, managing, encouraging volunteers and trying to get people to build around an activity or an event, I really enjoy it and thrive on it,” said Genz. “I took my experience from volunteering and work experience and just combined the two, and this is where I'm at.”
Genz has also been a booster of the legion in the past, attending many events and supporting new initiatives.
Today, however, the stakes are higher. He will be the boss, answerable to an executive board and to the community at-large.
“I truly want to see this place be a community hub for everyone,” said Genz, noting the institution’s membership guidelines have been relaxed. “I really want to take advantage of that. I really want to drive the membership up. I want to bring in people that are in town that don't necessarily come here, but would start coming in.
“I want to consult everybody individually and be able to truly get their feelings as far as what they have seen over the last few years, as far as what's worked, what hasn't,” he said, adding he’s looking forward to meeting and consulting with members of the legion’s executive board.
“I'm extremely excited for the opportunity. I really am.”
