Think of any community wish over the past 75 years and it's a good bet the Innisfail Lions Club has been there to make it come true.
Many citizens of today may not know the local club was instrumental in the building of the town's first public swimming pool and skating arena, sponsored the community's first Boy Scouts program, was an original supporter of the Innisfail Dolphins swim club, a pioneer in its support for local women's hockey, sponsored the Innisfail Lions hockey club in the 1970s, built playgrounds and other recreational facilities – notably at Raspberry Park -- and supported 4-H clubs.
There is a good reason folks haven't heard about these good deeds. A Lion is a humble man or woman not out for public recognition.
“I don't like the idea of putting big ads in the paper about what we do. No, we don't like to blow our own horn. We like to produce,” said 81-year-old Arie Gouw, an Innisfail Lions Club member for the past 38 years and its unofficial historian. “We do it for the community. We raise the money, and say, ‘There you are. Enjoy it'.”
However, the 17-member local club is letting its guard down a bit this month to give itself a well-earned pat on the back with a celebration of its 75th anniversary in Innisfail. The club is holding a big dinner at the legion on Nov. 16 to mark the milestone.
Formed in 1938, the club had its start 21 years after the organization was first created by a group of Chicago businessmen who wanted to band together to help people.
In 1927 the parent organization developed a focus – sight conservation, helping the blind. That focus would propel the organization – known across the world as Lions Clubs International, to be the largest service club in the world with more than 46,000 branches in 200 counties and 1.35 million members.
While its focus to help the visually impaired is still important for Lions Clubs International it has spread out its service mandate to other areas of need, including youth programs and 4-H clubs, which are specifically important for the Innisfail club.
“We have provided guide dogs for people who have needed it, at no cost to the individual, and not just for the blind but also for people afflicted with autism,” said Ted Webster, past district governor for Lions and a member of the local branch since 1975. Webster, 84, was a principal of Innisfail Junior/Senior High for 17 years. “There is a child in Penhold who we have provided a dog to help with his autism, as well for speech impaired people as well. The dogs will answer the telephones for people who can't hear it.”
The local Lions club has also worked hard for Innisfail's youth. The Lions still provide scholarships to schools for academic achievement and for last 20 years the club has sent two Innisfail high school students to the International Youth Leadership Camp at Waterton Lakes National Park.
In recent years, however, the local Lions club has seen its numbers dwindle, sometimes dangerously low.
“When I joined in 1975 membership was over 60. It got down to nine seven years ago but it's now back to 17,” noted Webster. “We are rallying a bit. We are getting a few younger members in.”
But even if there has been a few lean years during the local club's remarkable 75-year journey in Innisfail, friends and supporters will be at the legion on Nov. 16 to salute the Lions' exemplary service to the community. Members, never wanting to blow their own horns, will allow themselves for one night to humbly accept the acknowledgement.
“We feel we have done a great deal of good in the community, a lot of it unrecognized because we tend not to blow our own trumpet a lot. But people who know us come for assistance and we provide it,” said Webster. “We are quite proud. We are proud to be a Lion.”
