Lions Donate $17,000 to 14 Different Organizations

Club Prepares for Return of Santa Claus Parade

Lion Bob Reddick presents a cheque to the Rideau Lakes-Westport Quilts of Valour Group.

Westport Lions Roar

By Lion Bob Reddick

At our last general meeting on October 12, the Westport Lions passed two separate motions to donate a total of $17,000 to 14 different organizations.

All the organizations that received funding met at least one of the criteria:

Youth mental and physical development.
Senior mental and physical well-being.
Relief of pain, suffering and financial hardship due to illness or disaster.
Purposes beneficial to community.

The club also considers if the request is involved in at least one of the five pillars of service and global causes of Lions International. They are diabetes, hunger, childhood cancer, vision, and environment.

Lions Parade Nov. 26

The Westport Lions Santa Claus parade will start this year at 2:00 p.m. and begin at the Circle K/Esso Station. This year’s parade theme is an Old Country Western Christmas.

The parade will proceed down Concession St. to Rideau St., follow Main St. until The Cove, then turn left on to Bedford St. At the Westport Village Pharmacy, the parade will turn left on to Church St. At the end of Church St., it returns to Rideau St. and Concession and then back to the Esso.

The parade is shaping up to be one of the best and biggest ever. Four bands have confirmed to participate, and over 25 floats. There will be clowns, horses, vintage cars, and heavy equipment.

Lion organizer Marty Hawkins asks that if you wish to enter a float in the parade to please email the details to him at (martyh@findlayfoods.com) or telephone him at (613-531-1710). Marty hopes to publish a brochure with all the entries listed. This will help the parade marshals to organize the parade and the parade commentator to announce each entry.

The highlight of the parade will be the visit of Santa Claus. Santa has agreed to take time from his busy schedule to visit Westport. There will be an opportunity for young people to meet and get their picture taken with Santa after the parade at the Circle K.

During the parade, Lion members will collect non-perishable food or money for the Westport Food Bank.

Also, another group of Lions will collect unwrapped toys or money for Westport Lions Toy Drive.

Come early and perhaps have lunch or do some shopping while enjoying Christmas music beside Lake Effects.

As Lion Marty says, “Enter your float early, it’s going to be big.”