The Lioness clubs are an arm of the Lions club, and due to the restructuring by Lions International, Lioness clubs will no longer exist. It is with regret and through no fault of their own that after 35 years The Canora Wheatland Lioness Club must fold, said Sharon Ciesielski, charter member.
An item in The Canora Courier in January 1986 invited interested persons to attend an information night regarding the formation of a Lioness Club, and on May 10, 1986 at a formal event, The Canora Wheatland Lioness Club was certified with 24 members.
“From the outset the club was very busy and continued so throughout,” said Ciesielski. “You could spot us in the crowd wearing our crested vests and later purple shirts at community events; Youth Exchange Night, Bake Sales, June Daze pancake breakfast, Breakfast with Santa, reception for the Queen Elizabeth II visit, working protocol for 1986 winter games, sponsored family bowling, children’s candy treasure hunt, used glasses depot, Lodge Birthdays, Octoberfest, sponsored diabetic, Alzheimer’s and drug awareness presentations, co-sponsored New Years dance with Lions Club, hosted Cold Rush variety show, shopping spree, welcome wagon, Christmas hampers, graduation wrist bands, daffodil campaign, festival of trees at the CN station, journey for sight, hosted wives of provincial men’s curling, Christmas parade, New Years baby quilt and sham, Community in Bloom Picnic in the Park, worked our turn at Bingo, served lunch at auction sales, worked bar for several events, Christmas social with the senior clients at the Housing Authority, hosted and participated with Relay for Life, hosted a few Governor’s nights, participated in CJGX digital mammography for the Health Foundation campaign, sponsored Child Find, Prairie Women on Snow Machines (PWOS), served hot chocolate to Jr Elementary on Snow Shoe day, sponsored District 5 SKN speak-off, sponsored Health and Safety Expo, participated in the Canora Centennial celebration, purchased Shrine tickets for Nursery School, participated in Terry Fox Run – just to name a few.”
The Canora Wheatland Lioness Club received the Town of Canora volunteer organization award, Multiple District 5 Lioness of the Year award and Roman Kosie award for most eye glasses collected.
“We twinned with the San Fernando Lioness Club in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago,” recalled Ciesielski. “Ladies Night Fashion shows and games of chance proved to be fun and enjoyable for women of all ages , and it was always a pleasure to book live entertainment for your enjoyment. You might recall some of the most recent; Free my Muse, Metro, Rory Allen tribute to Elvis Presley, Darcy Lang, Bobby Bruce tribute to Neil Diamond, A R Cash tribute to Johnny Cash, Come Back King Show tribute to Elvis Presley and Tom Jones.”
Events were usually well attended and funds donated locally over the years totalled approximately $75,000. Local and area causes supported by those funds included: Youth Exchange ($3,025), Local citizen’s aid ($2,448), Gateway Lodge and Canora Hospital ($11,933), Yorkton Health Foundation ($12,025), Canora & District Health Foundation ($7,343), High School Scholarships ($6,150), School of Dance ($200), Parkland Music Festival ($825), School piano fundraiser ($2,462), Canora Arts Council ($850), School concerts and supplies ($4,100), junior curling stones ($200), Canora swimming pool ($2,000 in 1986 and 2021), Christmas Hampers $2,975), Canora Child Center/Nursery School/Kidspace ($2,232), Canora and District Benevolent Fund ($9,900), Canora Golf Course ($1,000), Canora Royal Canadian Legion ($700), Canora Public Library ($1,175), All Aboard Project ($2,000), and miscellaneous children’s sports ($375).
Other out-of-town contributions included: Teachers Quest ($600), (CNIB $3,260), Diabetic Association ($1,875), Melvin Jones Award ($1,000), Eye Bank ($975), Lions Foundation ($2,100), Dog Guides ($1,650), Kidney Foundation ($300), K9 Vision ($500), Other sight related donations ($1,885), Terry Fox Run ($1,100), Fort McMurray Fire ($500), Breast Cancer Foundation ($2,051), SADD ($300), District youth exchange ($375), Prairie Women on Snowmobiles ($2,345) and Relay for Life ($1,539).
“In 2008, the Canora Wheatland Lioness hosted Relay For Life,” said Ciesielski. “This was a community event, well attended and supported. The community raised $133,000 for Cancer research. In 2011 we hosted a fundraiser night for Prairie Women on Snowmobiles which raised $5,000.00.
“Not all the fundraising is listed but we estimate that over the years we have raised approximately $250,000, which is only possible through the generosity and support of the community, for which we are truly grateful. Many volunteer hours spent, but we did have fun . That’s the secret of any successful organization – make it fun.”
The final meeting was held May 11, 2021, which works out to 35 years plus one day after the initial certification meeting in 1986.
The 2021 Canora Wheatland Lioness Members were: Sharon Ciesielski, Lori Dennis, Cynthia Gazdewich, Catherine Holt, Nancy Leson, Shawna Leson, Val Morozoff, Brenda Murray, Darlene Senkow, Delores Shukin, Gladys Tomski, Julia Westerman and Bernice Wilgosh.
