Toy Drive chairperson, Jan Gagnon (left) and Lion Kim Kelly distributed toys for 30 children this Christmas season.
Westport Lions Roar
By Lion Bob Reddick
For many people, the end of the year is a time to reflect on and celebrate the year’s accomplishments. For the next couple of weeks, I will summarize the highlights of the Westport Lions Club year for 2022
January 2022
Cory Michel from Athens started the New Year off by winning $1,000 as the first number drawn in the Lions’ $10,000 Cash 2022 Calendar. The winning calendar for 2023 belongs to Roger & Sharon Crites from Brockville.
The Lions’ Medical Mobile Service continued to operate during the Omicron outbreak with a few prudent restrictions.
February
The club celebrated Family Day by inviting families to a bonfire at the beach with free hotdogs, hot chocolate, and Betty McInnis’s hamburger soup.
March
The Westport Lions in conjunction with Ukraine native Mary Chaikowsky, The Cove, and other volunteers raised money for the embattled country of Ukraine. At another event, the club was honoured to host residents with Ukrainian heritage to the clubhouse to help kick off the club’s initiative – Humanitarian Aid for Ukraine.
The Westport Lions Club collected $5,180 from the community and added another $5,000 from the club to send to the Red Cross. In addition, the club sent $2,000 to Lions International to help with their initiative.
On March 15, 50 seniors attended a luncheon at The Cove sponsored by the Westport Lions.
Lisa Walsh and Tammy Leger were inducted into the club on March 23.
Westport Lions President Michael Harris presented a certificate of appreciation to volunteer Toby Stewart for his years of dedicated work with the Lions’ Medical Mobility Service.
April
On Sunday, April 10, Bryan, and Tracy Colford’s family and friends, along with The Cove staff, raised $7,380 at the Lions’ Medical Mobility Service Breakfast.
At our April 13 general meeting, the Westport Lions passed a motion to donate $13,810 to 15 worthy organizations. The club can donate this large amount because of the outstanding support of the community and local businesses.
The Reuse and Recycle Centre located at 5295 on Salem Road opened for the season on April 22. New for 2022 was a Point-of-Sale terminal for debit and credit cards, renovations to allow for better viewing of items, and improved access and parking.
To support the township’s initiative, the Westport Lions organized a PITCH-IN day on April 30 and collected 22 bags of garbage from area roads. In addition to this two-hour effort, over three weeks, Lions and volunteers picked up an additional 41 bags of garbage and 280 beer cans.
May
Lion members and volunteers were busy working on the Lions’ community gardens near Westport’s water tower. Garden plots are available for people to grow vegetables for themselves or the food bank.
The Westport Lions Beach opened for people to enjoy. It takes 18 volunteers to maintain the beach property.
June
The club provided lunch for the Zone 30 Scavenger Hunt on Saturday, June 11. Later in the day, the club hosted its annual fish fry at the Lions’ beach.
Lion Kevin and Rose Kardash were presented with a plaque of appreciation for their many years of service to the Westport Lions Club at the Thousand Islands Playhouse.
As the Lions’ year ends, the Westport Lions Club recognized outstanding contributions to the community at our annual awards night held on June 8.
Volunteers Pat Reddick and Janet Mulville were presented with plaques of appreciation for their many years of service to the Westport Lions Club.
Lion Rick Warriner and charitable organizer Ken Rose were honoured by receiving the prestigious Melvin Jones Fellowship. Lion Rick and Ken are the seventh and eighth individuals in the 76-year history of the club to win this award.
Lion Rick Warriner has been a stalwart member of the Westport Lions Club for 34 years.
Ken Rose received the Melvin Jones Award in recognition of his significant service to our community.
Lion Larry Arsenault received the President’s Appreciation Award. Larry investigated, proposed, and implemented a new investment vehicle that will place the club in better long-term financial shape.
The Lion of the Year Award went to Lion Jim Scala. Jim’s vision and hard work resulted in the Reuse and Recycle Centre being a resounding triumph.
The rest of 2022 will be continued next week.
Westport Lions Club 