Join us at the Legion in Iona every Monday night for BINGO.
We welcome back our regular players and look forward to seeing new faces at Monday Night Bingo

6:30 - Doors Open
7:30 - Mini-Bingo
7:45 - Regular Games

Jackpot * Regular Jackpot * Toonie Game
All books and cards must be purchased prior to 7:45pm.
Cash only (ATM on site)
Players under 19yrs must be accompanied by an adult.

RCL Branch 124, Iona is accepting applications for a casual bartender.
The applicant must be prepared to work evenings, weekends and for special functions.
Experience is an asset, but not necessary.

Please forward your resume to Lori at lorid6821@gmail.com
Or drop it off at the bar during regular business hours.
We look forward to hearing from you!

Our weekly Wednesday Legion work parties start back on March 25th at 10am.
These work parties are a good opportunity to tackle small chores and solve world problems .
Anyone willing to help is welcome to join us.

Have you been thinking about joining the Legion? Now is your opportunity.
2026 marks 100 years of The Royal Canadian Legion.
To celebrate: The Legion is offering free membership for the 2026 year.
All first-time members can join at no cost. And will be known as Centenary Members.

Join Grandona Legion Branch 124, at Legion.ca/Join-us.
You can also visit our branch and pick up an application form.
Membership is open to the general public, and individuals do not need to have served in the military to take part.

Note: Free membership does not apply to membership renewals or membership reinstatements for previous members.

Thursday Night Meat Draw, Games Night!
Every Thursday evening
Grandona Legion - Iona

Kitchen Snack for April 23:
Merrin will be making Chicken Bacon Ranch Burgers - $5
Note: No baking table this week.

- Meat raffle tickets will be available for purchase
- Raffle draws at 6pm & 7pm with five chances to win each time
- Prizes available to win may include: Steak, Pork, Ground Beef, Ham & Fish
- Darts, cards and other games available to play between draws

Come check it out!
Bar opens at 5pm
Drop in for a game or hang out and socialize with a cold beverage.
19yrs and over

Monthly general meetings are scheduled for the first Wed. of each month.
All members are welcome to attend.
The next meeting date: Wed., May 6 at 7:30pm.

Current Bar Hours:
Saturday - Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 5-8pm
Friday: 6-11pm

April 24 Chase the Ace Ticket Winner: Lawren MacKinnon!
Amount won: $809
Card Picked: Three of Hearts

The next Chase the Ace draw will be: May 1st
Jackpot: $20,295 (plus 30% weekly sales)
Cards in Deck: 15

Chase the Ace Tickets will be on sale from 7:30-8:00pm every Friday at the Legion with draw shortly afterwards.
Tickets are $5 for one coloured ticket or $20 for a book of all four coloured tickets.
Ticket winner will win 20% of weekly sales plus a chance to draw the Ace of Spades to win the growing jackpot.
Participants must be 19yrs or older (bar will be open).
Complete details including "House Rules" can be found on the Legion Website (link above).

Tickets can be purchased during the week until 3pm Friday at:
- The Little Dipper Boutique (at the Iona Heights Inn)

This lottery is in support of:
RCL124 Grandona, Grand Narrows Waterfront Dev. Society and Central Cape Breton Community Ventures Inc.
Thank you for your support!

Saturday, May 2, 2026
Instructor: Julia MacNeil
Cost: $145

Working from a prepared round base, you will stake up, weave sides, border down and add a handle to create your own beautiful wicker basket. During the basket weaving process, Julia will discuss the history of basketmaking, traditional methods and tools, current practices, growing willow, etc. Come for a fun day of crafting and learning and leave with a useful basket, great for foraging, shopping and much more!

Julia is a local willow basketmaker. Using basketry willows grown on Cape Breton Island, she makes baskets of all shapes and sizes. She is excited to share her craft with others.

Space is limited. To register, please contact jessica.farrell@novascotia.ca before April 17, 2026.

Baile nan Gàidheal | Highland Village will reopen to the public on June 1, 2026. Our administration office is open from 9AM-5PM, Monday - Friday by appointment. Please phone (902) 725-2272.

THE SACRAMENT OF FIRST COMMUNION -- St. Columba Church, Iona.

For parents wishing to have their child (Grade 2 and up) receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion, please contact Josie by email at stcolumba.iona@ns.sympatico.ca or by phoning 902-725-2173. First Communion will be held in late May or early June. Thank you.

St Barra Parish will be hiring one individual for 8 weeks this summer starting on July 2.The position is open to anyone between 15 and 30 years of age. The person hired will be required to mow, trim and maintain the cemetery and church property in Christmas Island. Having some previous experience with the safe operation of mowers and trimmers would be an asset. The job pays $16.75 per hour for 35 hours a week. If you are interested, please forward your resume to Hugh MacKinnon at hlmackinnon2@gmail.com

ST. COLUMBA CHURCH

In an effort to keep our church sustainable to our parishioners for years to come we are looking ahead at work which should be done over the next few years. This beautiful building is one of the most photographic churches on the Island of Cape Breton. Inside or out many, many people are impressed with this work of art.

It has served our community well for years spiritually and for this to continue we must keep attention on the work to keep it in good repair.

Some of the work that may be anticipated over the next number of years may include:

(1) Work on replacing the copper on the steeple to prevent leaks which was temporarily repaired and seems to be holding for now.

(2) Three windows in the front above the doors should be replaced because they are wood and are over 30 plus years old.

(3) Brick work repair.

So in attempt to raise money for this we are asking for support to our Building Fund from parishioners and former parishioners or anyone who would love to see the St. Columba Church remain in the best possible condition for what it was built for - Weekly Mass, Funerals, Administration of the Sacraments, etc.

To make a donation e-transfers can be sent to stcolumba.iona@ns.sympatico.ca Make a note on your transfer that it is for church repairs and/or upkeep. We thanks you in advance for your support of these endeavours.

Visit our website parishesofcentralcapebreton.ca for pictures taken by Neila MacLellan of the interior and exterior of the church. We would like to thank Neila for allowing us to use her beautiful photos.

WINDOWS AT ST.COLUMBA CHURCH-The two wooden windows on the water side of the church will need to be replaced this year at an estimated cost of $2000 per window. As was done with the previous window replacement, any parishioner or friend of the parish who would like to donate a window in memory of a family member or friend can do so by contacting Gregory at 902-295-7843.Thank you for your consideration.

St. BARRA, the first church in Central Cape Breton, is the new salt giving fresh flavor to the manna from heaven, the Word of God. At 10:00 AM every Sunday morning the Word of God, transcribed in the Bible, is read and explained for us today which brings the the past to life in our times. The Lord God says: I am the Alpha and the Omega, the one who is and who was and who is yet to come, the Almighty. ( Rv.1: 8 ) Everyone is welcome to come hear the words of God explained, for us today. When : Sundays at 10:00 AM at St. Barra's Church in Christmas Island.

Bulletins, news and reflections for our family of parishes can be found on our website: www.parishesofcentralcapebreton.ca

The St.Barra Preservation & Development Society would like to announce their new Christmas Island Monthly Draw!! Details: Monthly prize = > $500 Tickets => $10 ea (limit 100/month) Draws => 2nd Sunday of each month To purchase or sell tickets, please contact: Anna Burke Email: annaburke1@yahoo.ca Text: 902 622-6007 Betty MacKenzie Email: mcknzbetty@aol.com Text: 902 537-1759 100% of proceeds go towards St. Barra Church (Christmas Island) building maintenance. Thank you, your generosity and support are greatly appreciated!