CARLYLE - Lions Park in Carlyle will come alive on Sept. 9 and 10 when the 60th anniversary celebrations for the Carlyle District Lions Club will take place.
An invitation has been sent out to all past and present members and also to the families of those members that have passed away.
On Nov. 29, 1963, the Carlyle District Lions were born through the sponsorship of the Oxbow Lions.
This club had its highest membership in 1978 with 44 members and its lowest was in 2001 with 28, but today they have 32 active members.
Craig Savill is one of the chairmen and is the vice-president of the Lions.
Savill is very passionate about the club and excited about the big event coming up.
He has been in Regina, helping another Lions club with the Canada Cup baseball tournament when they were short on volunteers.
“This is what we do,” said Savill. “We help each other.”
Attending the 60th anniversary will be Lane Johnson, the Lions' district governor from Climax, as well as Carlyle’s Heather Veermeersh, the first vice-district governor, and Paige Newton, the second vice-district governor from Cabri.
Carlyle Mayor Jen Sedor, RM of Moose Mountain Reeve Kelly Brimner and Cannington MLA Daryl Harrison also plan to attend.
Savill hopes that this weekend will bring lasting memories to those who attend and a chance to reminisce about the past.
Holding it at the park will give the Lions the opportunity to showcase the park and all their hard work.
The tickets are on sale for $25 for the weekend and free camping will be available for the event. With 200 tickets they hope to sell out.
On Sept. 9, beginning at 4 p.m., will be entertainment, supper and a full program to follow. The following morning will have a pancake breakfast and an interdenominational service.
An alternate location has been planned in case of inclement weather.
For the past 25 years, the Lions have held a spring supper and auction as one of their fundraisers. This event has always done well and will continue as an annual spring event.
Another large project is the Lions Pride Estates. A committee was formed in 1999, and today they continue to have a waiting list of people.
It is for seniors and is a lease option, which means pay a monthly fee to cover the mortgage, taxes and condo fees, but in the end, they will get their investment back, minus an administration fee.
The Lions park has seen a lot of upgrades over the years with the playground equipment, ball diamonds, and a large gazebo. Close by is the pool for everyone to enjoy.
Their meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month and new members are always welcome to join, with a small fee.
Lions International is the largest worldwide service club organization, with more than 1.4 million members in over 200 countries.
A large part of the club is the Lions Foundation of Guide Dogs.
These dogs are bred and raised in Oakville, Ont., and receive extensive training.
They have had 1,018 active client-dog guide teams with 85 dogs in training in 2022.
Last year they had 236 puppies and 1,422 vet visits. They have 215 foster families to help raise future dog guides.
A new facility is in the works for 2025 to help more people receive these important animals, to help them cope with issues in their lives.
