Having fun while working hard to serve the community has always been the name of the game for the Coldwater Lions Club. The service club celebrated its 85th anniversary at the Coldwater Legion on Saturday night.
In order for a new Lions club to form in an area, it must be sponsored by another club. The Coldwater Lions Club was sponsored by the Orillia Lions Club in 1939.
Two members, Tom Smith and Doug Binns, were each awarded lifetime service memberships on Saturday night.
Over six decades, Smith has witnessed the club evolve in a number of ways.
“It’s a bit of a blur,” he said about the many functions he has coordinated.
“We do a lot of stuff and for future years we hope it will all carry on, and with these Lady Lions, it will,” said Smith.
He has observed the number of female memberships (Lady Lions) grow drastically since his early involvement. Watching how they contribute gives Smith faith the club will continue to have a critical impact on the community it serves.
Jason Lye has been with the Coldwater Lions Club for 17 years. This is his second time serving as president and he listed the many areas the community is impacted by its members: parades, fireworks, contributions to camps and donations to hospitals are just a few.
“Anything there is a need for in the community,” he said of their mantra to do everything they can to help.
Lye wanted to be part of the Lions Club since his teenage years. He first got involved when he was 16. Lye donned a lion costume with the president at the time sitting in a cage for a float at the Santa Claus parade. Lye was Santa for the parade in more recent years.
“It goes past generations,” Lye noted about his own experience and those around him.
While the goal is to attract more new members, they take pride in the fun they have while doing so.
“The endeavour now is to bolster our numbers; we’re doing what is called a Leos Club,” said Lye, explaining the program attracts children ages 10 and up to volunteerism and community engagement.
Lye explained that Lions Clubs across Canada aim to bring in five new members every year. So far, Coldwater is on track with four. He plans to focus on the Leos Club and attracting youth.
Act of Kindness is a newer Lions Club program. It aims to help less recognized people within the community. Larry Morley said they try to acknowledge these community members monthly, sometimes with flowers at their door or tokens of appreciation, often anonymously.
Morley has been involved with the club for 22 years. He stressed the funds raised stay within the community or broader Simcoe County.
“We support a number of organizations, the Coldwater Canadiana (museum), the Legion, schools, churches, the agricultural society ... we’ve made donations to hospitals,” he said, “I think we are a very inclusive club. We really try to get the folks involved.”
Reminiscing and sharing stories was a big part of the evening.
Morley recalled a moment with a member who has since passed on. He was addressing the club about a fundraiser event. Once instructed to get up and check under their chairs, everyone found a dollar bill.
“That just goes to show that you gotta get off your arse to make a buck,” said Morley, laughing as he quoted his friend.
Many Lions also remembered the $3,000 raised from sponsoring member Richard Jolliffe to shave off his thick, rather prodigious beard.
“If you’re having fun you won the day,” said Morley about the club and its efforts. “We work hard but we have fun at the same time.”
This was evident by the number of jokes and sounds of laughter throughout the evening.
Celebrating 85 years brought members from neighbouring Lions clubs. Kim Card-Parke and Brian Parke have been members of the Baxter Ward Lions Club since it began five years ago. They were happy to meet new people while attending Saturday evening.
They agreed that giving back to the community is what motivates them to be involved.
“That and leveraging skills you already have,” said Card-Parke who is now retired and serves as treasurer for the Baxter Ward Lions Club.
“This is an ideal small community,” said Mike Larochelle, who has been a Lions member for 27 years. He and his family came from Oshawa. They wanted to escape the city and the Lions Club in Coldwater demonstrated some key characteristics.
“I think sometimes what we try to specify is that you don’t try to do too much,” said Ken Cadeau, a Coldwater Lions Club member for 35 years. He said this strategy has worked within their club.
“This works like you wouldn’t believe,” said Cadeau. “Anything you do, if you do too much of it, you’ll get sick of it.”
Cadeau said he has enjoyed being part of organizing the New Year’s Eve fireworks and much-loved duck race on the Coldwater River.
Debbie Southorn was drawn to the “great work” done by the Lions Club when she retired and wanted to be involved in the community. Her niece, Sarah, also volunteers consistently for Lions Club events.
“They do so many amazing things in the community, there’s not a Lion that is in the club for themselves; we’re all community-based,” said Debbie.
It wasn’t until she became a member of the club that she knew the extent of the contributions it makes.
“We’re so welcoming ... and it’s fun to be a part of,” she said, speaking of her experience as a whole.
“For any club to still be going after 85 years, it’s awesome. Bringing people together and with the same purpose and celebrating together,” she continued.
For many, like Southorn and her niece, the future is about helping more people.
“Getting out there and expanding our awareness to the community, let them know of our open door policy and if there’s a need we can do what we can,” said Southorn.
Morley agreed and says he is proud of the many people he has worked with over more than two decades.
“They just roll up their sleeves and get things done,” he said.
