Meetings are held every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at 18:30 hours at 63 Mountain Road, Westport, ON.
Our District Affiliation is District A4, Region 30, Zone Affiliation 30 S.
“I slept & dreamt that life was joy. I awoke & saw that life was service. I acted & behold, service was joy.” -Tagore
(Description with thanks to Lucille Bresee, Review Mirror, Aug 18th, 2011)
It was in the spring of 1946 that a number of Westport’s public spirited citizens, realizing the need for a service club, organized the Lions. The neighbouring club in Gananoque gladly offered their sponsorship and on March 26, 1946 the club received its charter.
Back in those early days, club members built an outdoor ice rink and then provided needed financial assistance and many man-hours to build the first covered arena. This was an important factor in the realization of the present Community Centre.
When the club purchased the beach property, it was small and neglected but they acquired more land, held bees to landscape it and acquired picnic tables. They have continued to maintain and update it and, as you know, today it is a pleasant, well cared for summer recreation spot. Hundreds of people of all ages from our own community, neighbouring centres and visitors from south of the border come and enjoy many hours of pleassure and relaxation.
The Lions have touched virtually every age group, and in some ways, each individual. This includes the children who receive the opportunity to greet Santa at their Christmas parade. One of the highlights for seniors is the personal visit of a Lion member with a tasty Christmas cake. The annual Halloween party and treats for the youth. Visiting schools in the area providing visual screening tests. Assisting with eye glasses, dental work, and other medical needs such as wheelchairs and crutches. Sponsoring blood donor clinics for the Red Cross.
One of the greatest achievements of our club and one which has provided a tremendous ongoing service is the Westport Lions Mobility Van. This vehicle is a familiar sight on local roads enroute to hospitals, clinics and doctor’s offices.
As they approach their 70th anniversary, be mindful of our founding Charter Members and their vision for the leadership that followed.
Charter Members – March 10th, 1946
| R Abrams | JD Kane |
| J Anderson | A Lee |
| RR Andress | ST McCann |
| WB Armstrong | George McCulloch |
| SE Blair | J McClement |
| Wm Blair | E Menzies |
| WS Breakenridge | WK Murphy |
| GT Butterill | J Niblock |
| WJ Carty | W Prescott |
| J Chisamore | L Raycraft |
| AJ Crozier | W Rice |
| W Derbyshire | T Roberts |
| R Donnelly | H Roberts |
| R Flegg (Sr) | C Stoness |
| WR Goodfellow | George Sully |
| Dr. FM Goodfellow | R Sully |
| N Gordon | N Truelove |
| Percy B Genge | F Truelove |
| S Goodell | GI Wing |
Past Presidents
| 1946-47 WM Armstrong | 1982-84 Ross Kirkham |
| 1947-48 WR Goodfellow | 1984-85 Jack Hearn |
| 1948-49 George Sully | 1985-86 Joel McCulloch |
| 1949-50 RR Andress | 1986-87 Philip Powers |
| 1950-51 WJ Carty | 1987-88 Ken Kirst |
| 1951-52 Bob Donnelly | 1988-89 Gary Warriner |
| 1952-53 J Niblock | 1989-90 Harry Laewen |
| 1953-54 Roy Goodfellow | 1990-91 Earl Grace |
| 1954-55 WM Blair | 1991-92 Brian Thake |
| 1955-56 R Flegg (Sr) | 1992-93 Neil Scott |
| 1956-57 SL Conroy | 1993-94 Norm Reside |
| 1957-58 WK Murphy | 1994-95 Marty Hawkins |
| 1958-59 K McDonald | 1995-96 Joe Boucher |
| 1959-60 N Cameron | 1996-97 Pat McGinnis |
| 1960-61 GI Wing | 1997-98 Roger Ingall |
| 1961-62 Vance Gibson | 1998-99 Harry Profit |
| 1962-63 G (Fetch) Murphy | 1999-01 Wayne Bent |
| 1963-64 K McDonald | 2001-02 Dave Blair |
| 1964-65 E McGregor | 2002-03 Howie Crichton |
| 1965-66 W Thake | 2003-04 Rick Warriner |
| 1966-67 Art Beamish | 2004-05 Dale Lyons |
| 1967-68 J Dodds | 2005-06 Joe DeKroon |
| 1968-69 Orval Thake | 2006-07 Wayne Bent |
| 1969-70 WM McCulloch | 2007-08 Mike McIntyre |
| 1970-71 J Wing | 2008-09 Bob Thompson |
| 1971-72 Archie Rice | 2009-10 Marty Hawkins |
| 1972-73 Wayne McGregor | 2010-11 Ross Burns |
| 1973-74 Lea Hutchinson | 2011-12 Jim McGlade |
| 1974-75 Tony Dunleavy | 2012-13 Marty Hawkins |
| 1975-76 Robert Pedherney | 2013-14 John Rempel |
| 1976-77 Dave Graham | 2014-16 Don Baker |
| 1977-78 Fred Dollman | 2016 -20 Wayne Bent |
| 1978-79 Jim McGlade | 2020 – Jim Scala |
| 1979-80 Tom Potter | 2021-22 – Michael Harris |
| 1980-81 Rick Simpson | 2022-23 – Bob Reddick |
| 1981-82 Murray McGregor | 2023-24 – Dorothy Maynard |
Lion of Year Recipients
| 2022 – 23 Marty Hawkins |
| 2021 – 22 Jim Scala |
| 2020 – 21 Bob Reddick |
| 2019 – 20 Dorothy Maynard |
| 2018 – 19 Bob Reddick |
| 2017 – 18 Harry Beckett |
| 2017 – 16 Michael Harris |
Melvin Jones Recipients Since 1946
| Lion Norm Reside | Lion Gary Warriner |
| Lion Mary Hawkins | Lion David Blair |
| Lion Wayne Bent | Ken Rose |
| Lion Rick Warriner | Lion Jim McGlade |
| Lucille Bresee | Lion Don Baker |
Westport Lions Club 