PREECEVILLE - Members of the Preeceville and District Lions Club have continued its tradition, focusing on helping others by providing support through various fundraisers. One of those main fundraisers was the Chase the Ace which helped the Lions to be able to continue giving back and supporting non-profit organizations.
Club members proudly presented the Preeceville School Outdoor Space and Playground Project, as well as the Barveenok Ukrainian Dance Club each with a donation of $17,814.59, and the Preeceville Curling Club with a donation in the amount of $30,629.19. The organizations helped to sell Chase the Ace tickets all season. In return they received a donation from the proceeds of the tickets. The presentations were made at the Preeceville Curling Rink on Jan. 6.
Tara Romanchuk and her daughter Lindy accepted the donation on behalf of the dance club from Sharon Draper, treasurer for Chase the Ace. Leslea Hanson, on behalf of the Preeceville School, accepted the donation from James Bodnar, vice-president of the Preeceville Lions and Sheldon Luciw accepted the curling rink donation from Ralph Ager, president of the Chase the Ace committee.
The Lion’s Club are responsible for creating and maintaining the Lion’s Family Trails in the summer and winter. The next project for them will possibly be the paving of a portion of the trail that runs west of the Preeceville LTC to help assist residents with better access to the trails. In the winter the club grooms the ski trails with a snowmobile and a set of grooming tracks. In the summer, the focus is on maintaining the trails and keeping them free of fallen debris. The club is still working on expanding the trails but the project is ongoing.
Recently the club has purchased a projector and large screen for outdoor movie nights. Future projects may include making the Preeceville Sports Grounds a multi-purpose area with a closed-in building.
A history of giving
The first meeting to discuss the formation of a Lions Club in Preeceville was held at the Legion Hall on Feb. 28, 1960, stated the Town of Preeceville history book, Lines of the Past.
There were 37 persons present in attendance at this meeting overseen by Dr. Reg Forshner where everyone agreed to form a Lions Club. The first president was Forshner, with Peter Predy as secretary and Reg Roberts was treasurer. The first meeting of the newly-formed club was held a week later with the balance of the executive elected: Dave Slinn, first vice-president; Russel Long, second vice-president; Orval Jones, third vice-president; Myron Swiderski, Lion tamer; Stewart Butler as tail twister. The club was named the Preeceville and District Lion's Club.
The first charter night was held March 31, 1960, with 49 charter members installed.
The first project as a club was a children's park and playground with a paddling pool which was erected on the east side of the Town of Preeceville. A washroom facility was added to complete the park.
Another project for the club over the first year was the purchase of land two miles east of the town on Highway 9 and 49, and additional land was donated by Premier Producers Ltd. The land was cleared, which was the beginning of a roadside park. Later it was turned over to the department of natural resources for completion and maintenance.
The first sports day was organized and sponsored on July 10, 1960. The first Christmas party was organized that same year with a movie and visit by Santa Claus. Bags of candy, nuts and oranges were given away.
In 1961, the club assisted with the installation of heating and flooding equipment in the skating rink.
With funds from the annual winter carnival, the club was able to take on another project, the building of a senior citizens home.
In 1965, the practice of selling Christmas cakes was started to raise funds. In 1967, the club donated 12 street garbage containers to help keep the streets clean. In 1970, a new sound system was installed in the skating rink. The club donated $40,000 towards the building of a new rink. They also donated monies towards renovations at the Legion Hall: repairing the curling rink roof, established new playgrounds and a tennis court, and contributed towards artificial ice in the curling rink. In 1982, they donated towards a level three nursing home.
The latest updated projects that the club has taken on include creating cross-country ski trails around the outskirts of the Town of Preeceville. A special groomer was purchased to help in this process. The club is responsible for the maintaining the sports grounds track. The trails also have benches along the trail in memory of deceased members.
The club sponsors two high school scholarships, rent out three tents for any occasion and participate in the annual Remembrance Day Service.
Other activities the club has been involved in over the years include: a kiddies Christmas party, winter carnival (1960-1996), selling Christmas fruit cakes and chocolate Easter bunnies, Shrine Circus, trade shows (1995-2014), bingos (1960-2014), tent rentals and the western weekend from 1995 to the present.
