Central Saanich Lions Club Celebrates 50th Anniversary The Central Saanich Lions Club is celebrating 50 years of service to our community. The club was founded in March of 1969 by 28 local men who saw a need for a service club. The Club is part of Lions Club International, whose mission statement is "to empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions Clubs." Over the past five decades, the Club members have upheld their motto of: "we serve." Club projects are all based on serving the community. The Lions Club can be found at many events with its traditional pancake breakfasts and barbecues to raise funds for various projects. The Central Saanich Lions Club has contributed over $1.2 million to the community, plus thousands of hours of community service. Club service to the community includes more projects than can be listed here, but recent efforts such as $20,000 to the Brentwood Bay Performance Stage in Pioneer Park, and $10,000 to the Central Saanich Batting Facility at Centennial Park are two examples. A big project that took over three years and some 40 work parties occurred a few years ago. Funds were raised by collecting, cleaning and selling brass from old used water meters discarded from both Central Saanich and Saanich municipalities. A cheque for $45,000 was presented to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation to go towards purchasing "Green Light" laser equipment to use in cancer treatment. Service to the Mount Newton Centre Society, and a motor scooter program for people with mobility problems, are projects that may not show Club sponsorship, but are greatly appreciated. Funds raised at the annual Christmas Tree Chip, firewood sales, annual Easter Egg Hunt and Halloween bonfire, as well as the many breakfasts and lunches, all go to local student scholarships, and grants to local and regional needs. Lions Club International is best known for its work in ensuring vision for all. In upholding this commitment, The Central Saanich Lions Club, in cooperation with School District #63 and the ȽÁU, WELNEW Tribal School has provided vision screening/testing to more then 2,800 students in the last 12 months and our eye glass program helps to subsidize eye glasses to students in need who require vision correction. The Central Saanich Lions are always open to new members. At present we have 46 members, and lots of room for others to join. Membership is open to women and men of all ages interested in serving their community. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Thursday of
every month between September and June at the Lion's Hall on East Saanich Road. The meetings, which start at 6:30 p.m., include dinner, guest speakers and fun and enjoyment for members while building a sense of teamwork. If you are interested in attending, contact Lion Garry Wake at 250-652-4764 or email lgwake@shaw.ca. If you would like more information please visit https://www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/ centralsaanich/. Join us at our 50th Anniversary Celebration on June 8, where all of the proceeds from the Silent Auction will go to four charities: the Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association, The Centre for Active Living 50+, Mount Newton Centre Society and the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation Palliative Care Program. Our Club is looking forward to serving our community for another 50 years.
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