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35 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,A pril 28,2022 insidehalton.com 2459 Mount Forest Drive, Burlington L7P 1J7 pinoyconveniencemarket.com (905) 336-7686 Monday to Friday 10:00 AM til 8:00 PM; Saturday 8:00 AM til 8:00 PM and Sundays 8:00 AM til 8:00 PM. We are now open to serve you! Authentic Filipino Asian Grocery We are now open to serve you! Authentic Filipino Asian Grocery Fresh Vegetables on Weekends A STRONGER VOICE We recognize that diversity is the strength of our communities and we are inviting you to share your voice in our publications. INSIDEHALTON.COM/COMMUNITYDIVERSITY When the Oakville Lions Club says that the town would not be what it is today without them, they can easily back up that statement. For over 85 years, the club has poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into this community to improve the quality of life for its citi- zens. From the hospital to police and fire depart- ments, the local canoe club to public swimming pools and tennis courts, the club's imprint is every- where. In the 1940s, the Lions Club purchased a home on First Street to function as Oakville's first hospital, in- stalling an elevator to move supplies from the basement to the third-floor surgery department. The service club helped launch the Town of Oak- ville Water Air Rescue Force (TOWARF), which it continues to support today, built the town's first swim- ming pool, as well as two additional pools and tennis courts on Navy flats, and opened Lions Valley Park to the public. More fundraising ef- forts included the pur- chase of a second boat for TOWARF, cardiac equip- ment for Oakville Trafal- gar Memorial Hospital (OTMH); an ambulance for St. John's; a Seeing Eye dog for a sightless person and a $25,000 down payment to begin Canine Vision Cana- da; and $20,000 to help start what was then called the Oakville Racing Canoe Club. Celebrating 50 years in Oakville in 1985, the club honoured its pledge with $100,000 to OTMH. Over the next several years, the club purchased a van for Halton police's D.A.R.E program, bought six defibrillators for Oakville's fire depart- ment and pledged $130,000 to build the Burloak Canoe Club, with many club members actually working on the project, said mem- ber Michael Geske. From its humble begin- nings providing Christmas gifts for the youngsters of Stephens Survey School in 1935 to the major financial support of OTMH, as well as dozens of other community projects to help those in need, Oakville wouldn't be the town it is today without the support of the Oakville Lions Club, said Geske. Chartered in December 1935, the Oakville Lions Club has become a fixture in the community. "Not many organiza- tions can lay claim to this longevity," he said. The Oakville Lions Club has had challenges attract- ing new members over the years, as have many other service clubs, said Geske. However, the local club "has been fortunate in that it seems to have always had at its core a dedicated num- ber of very active members who have helped us main- tain membership over the years." In 2013, the Lions Club opened its doors to wel- come its first female club member; in that same year, the club sponsored a Leo Lions Club for young peo- ple between 14 and 19 years of age, who are encouraged to train for leadership and find ways to help those in need within the communi- ty. The Oakville Leo's Club is still going strong today, said Geske. "Speaking frankly, add- ing women to the Oakville Lions Club has been both a boon in membership and has helped to add new and invigorating ideas for fund- raising." For the 2021-22 term, the Oakville Lions Club is guided by its first-ever fe- male president, Sima Acan. When the pandemic hit, the club pivoted to online meetings; with the leader- ship of the executive board and co-operation of the members, the club contin- ued to grow and find ways to support organizations also feeling the challenges of the times, said Geske. The club welcomes new male and female members with many different back- grounds. "Diversity and change, inclusion and co-opera- tion, and above all, the de- sire to make a difference and help those in need have helped the club stay vi- brant and grow." To learn more about the Lions Club or to inquire about how you can help or join the club, contact oak- villelions@gmail.com. LIONS CLUB A LONGTIME PILLAR OF COMMUNITY NEWS GROUP HAS ENHANCED QUALITY OF LIFE FOR COUNTLESS RESIDENTS Oakville's first hospital facility, a project spearheaded by the Lions Club. Oakville Lions Club photo