What is the International Gavel Passing? Simply put it is a weekend of fun and camaraderie between the American Legion posts of North Central Washington and the Royal Canadian Legion branches of Central British Columbia.
This tradition started in 1952 to celebrate friendship and common experiences across the border. On even number years, the event is held at a Canadian Legion branch and on odd numbered years it is held at an American Legion branch (typically in the 9th district).
These events typically take place over 3 days during a weekend in early September and include a variety of activities including a memorial wreath laying and acts of remembrance, speakers from both sides of the border, and the official ceremony for passing the “friendship” gavel. Afterwards there is a parade through town then the festivities move to the host Post, often with live entertainment, hosted meals, games and contests, and an auction to help the hosting unit cover their expenses. There is often a Golf Tournament or Olympic Games event during the weekend as well.
The 2027 Gavel Passing will be hosted by American Legion Post 28, Ephrata WA. Previous events have been held at:
- 2026 – Merrit, BC
- 2025 – Chewelah, WA; cancelled due to lack of registrations
- 2024 – Princeton, BC
- 15-17 Sept 2023 – American Legion Post 97, Brewster WA; article from the Quad City Herald (21 Sept 2023)
- 2022 – Enderby, BC
- 2021 – Cancelled due to COVID
- 2020 – Cancelled due to COVID
- 2019 – Ephrata, WA
- 2018 – Oliver, BC
- 8-10 Sept 2017 – American Legion Post 84, Oroville WA
- 2016 – Barriere, BC
- 2015 – Brewster, WA
- 2014 – Salmon Arm BC
- 2013 – Ephrata, WA
- 2012- Okanogan Falls, BC
- 2011 – Oroville, WA
- 2010 – Chase, BC
Editor’s note: We would love to share more memories, articles, etc from past events. If you have a link to news coverage or a photo gallery from one of the above mentioned events, please drop it in the comments or send it through our contact form.
These events are open to members of the organizations and their families. Registration is required and should be done early. If you’re interested in attending the one in Ephrata next September, we can get you in touch with the chairman and secretary for the 2027 event.
The following was shared with NCW Veterans Info and talks about the start of this tradition, The Interior Traveling Gavel.
This gavel came into existence in approximately 1952. Before that time Comrade Don McTavish had been a Vice President of Provincial Command of the Canadian Legion, B.E.S.L. He was asked by the Provincial President, Comrade Bernie Isman, to represent the Provincial President at the Mission City Branch which was hosting a ceremony at which Branches of the Lower Mainland and some coastal Posts of the American Legion would be guests. It turned out that the Mission City Branch was to be the recipient of a Traveling Gavel circulating on the coast.
Comrade McTavish was impressed by the event and decided to inaugurate an Interior Traveling Gavel. He approached Comrade Middleton of Trail, B.C., also a Provincial Vice President, and arrangements were made to have a gavel and case made at the Trail smelter. By the time that gavel and case were received Comrade McTavish was Provincial President, and as such made the first presentation of the Interior Traveling Gavel to the Armstrong Branch of the then British Columbia and Northwest States Command of the British Empire Service League.
In 1954, with the idea of making the gavel an international affair, the Zone Commanders who were then in charge of the gavel, on the instigation of Comrade Jack Pothecary, then Zone Commander of the North Oganagan Zone, agreed to its being passed once a year to an American Legion Post in the State of Washington. The first passing was to the Omak Post of the American Legion.
The purpose of the now Interior International Traveling Gavel was to promote friendship and comradeship between Branches of the Canadian Legion, in the interior of British Columbia, and the Posts of the American Legion in the State of Washington. It was to be handled initially by Zone Commanders of the North Okanagan Zone, South Okanagan Zone, the Kamloops and District Zone, the then Revelstoke and District Zone and the West Kootenay Zone of the Legion. After the inclusion of the District Nine of the American Legion, a further representative was added to cover that district. Since the Revelstoke and District Zone became part of the North Okanagan Zone, this representative was dropped, and as the West Kootenay Zone was not active in the Gavel Passing, this representative was also dropped. This left three Zone Commanders and an American Legion representative from District Nine together with Comrade Don McTavish as the committee in charge of the Interior Traveling Gavel.
The Gavel has been to the following branches and Posts: Armstrong, Vernon, Revelstoke, Kelowna, Penticton, Salmon Arm, Sicamous, Enderby, Golden, Kimberly, Summerland, Chase, Oyama, Lumby, Kamloops, Trail, Omak, Coulee Dam, Wenatchee, Ephrata, Brewster, Twisp, Okanagan, and other places. It can be seen that by the number of Branches and Posts which have hosted the Gavel Passing that its original purposes to promote friendship and comradeship and the exchange of ideas between Branches and Posts have been fulfilled.
Sometime early in 1966 or 1967 Comrades Percy Maundrell, Jack Pothecary, Don McTavish, and Warren Kirk, of the American Legion, as the committee in charge of Gavel Passing, met in Salmon Arm and agreed that the Gavel Passing was losing its significance. The Gavel had remained in the Methow Post in Twisp, Washington for over a year. Its passing after leaving Twisp had been lethargic.
When originally started it had been agreed that the Gavel would not remain in any one Branch or Post for more than six weeks, and yet one Post had held it for something like sixteen months. The committee felt that if the Gavel Passing was to become significant again, more frequent passing of the Gavel was essential. It recalled the words of a former Dominion President of the Canadian Legion, Comrade Bishop John Anderson, “Today the Canadian Legion is at a crossroads. It can continue to be a vital force in Canada’s future or it can go into gradual decline. We have a brilliant record of achievement behind us, but where do we go from here?” It was felt that the Gavel Passing was likewise, at a crossroads. The comrades attending Gavel Ceremonies could sit idly by and become part of insignificant occasions for old friends to get together and reminisce; or, they could make the occasions times of significance and value, to both the Canadian and the American Legions and their two countries.
The committee accepted the proposal of Comrade Maudrell that there should be two gavels – one to be circulated among the Branches in Canada and a second circulated between Posts in the United States. There should be an annual exchange of gavels between Canada and the United States. At the same time there should be two scholarships set up, one in Canada and a second in the United States. Coincidental with the exchange of gavels there should be the announcement of the scholarship winners in Canada and in the United States. The Royal Canadian Legion and the American Legion would finance these scholarships.
The above suggestion was put forward at a Gavel Passing Ceremony held in Wenatchee in 1966. At that time the second gavel was presented to the Kelowna Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. There are thus two Interior Traveling Gavels in existence. The second gavel seems to have disappeared and the scholarship suggestion has never been acted upon. The original committee has ceased to function and it would appear that we have determined to sit idly by and in our reclining years grieve for what might have been.
Since 1970 the writer has not had any dealings with the Traveling Gavel. What the future will be depends on those now in charge of this function.
Writer Unknown