The newly formed Lions Club in Wallaceburg is taking over the organizing of Wallaceburg’s annual Canada Day festivities and fireworks display.
Lorne Brock, president of the club, told the Sydenham Current one of their roles as as a group is to provide necessary community support.
“The fireworks committee had in their mind with Canada’s 150th completed their mandate, but wanted the fireworks and Canada Day celebrations to continue,” Brock said.
“It fit well with Lions and our community service focus, so some of the members joined with us and are now Lions. We’ll be starting to run some fundraisers to support the fireworks for next July, along with our other activities, diabetes, blindness and the youth programs.”
Brock said the Lions want the community to know that the the fireworks committee and the annual Canada Day festivities has not disappeared.
“Last summer they weren’t sure who was going to do it, but it is now a part of the Lions,” said.
Brock added that their group does not plan on making any sweeping changes to the event, as it will still be scheduled to take place between Kinsmen Park and A.A. Wright Public School on July 1, 2018.
The outgoing fireworks committee recently captured the BIA Award at the Wallaceburg Chamber of Commerce’s Business and Community Excellence Awards.
Check out our coverage form this past summer’s Canada 150 celebrations in Wallaceburg, here.
Lions looking for new members
Brock said they are also looking for more members.
“Anyone interested in joining these great causes and helping out, they can come out to our meetings,” he said, adding that membership fees for the group is $100 for a full year.
“They would be expected to help out with the food sales, the barbecues, we will have some trivia nights at local restaurants,” he said.
“It’s basically supporting the fundraising activities. There are several of them and everyone doesn’t have to do all of them, but the idea is to serve the community and to get funds that we can put into the things we need.”
Brock said one of their long term goals is to be able to provide equipment at the hospital, or to have a specific clinic sponsored by Lions.
“We’re new, so right now we are just building up to that,” he said.
“We want people to come out and be enthusiastic and help out. There is something for everyone, depending on your skill set. If you’re the kind of person who wants to be a treasurer or president or executive, you can do that. If you want to be a person that works activities, a helper not a leader, we have that too.”
The Lions meet the first Monday of every month in the Municipal building in the second floor meeting room.
The meetings starts at 6:30 p.m. and run until approximately 8:30 p.m.
The Wallaceburg club became official back in September.
Appearing in Santa Claus Parade
Brock said the community will see the new Lions Club in the Santa Claus Parade in Wallaceburg on November 18.
“We’re going to be involved with the Knights of Pythias during the Santa Claus Parade in Wallaceburg,” he said.
“People will see us out there handing out candy for the children during the parade. We want to get visible in the community.”
– Photo credit: Tami Eagen
