Kinsmen honour decades of service at Past Presidents’ Night

The Kinsmen Club of St. Marys celebrated legacy and fellowship at the annual Past Presidents’ Night, honouring longtime members and sharing memories. Pictured are attendees at the presidents’ night dinner in St. Marys.

By Alex Hunt

Past and present members of the Kinsmen Club of St. Marys gathered Oct. 16 to celebrate decades of service, leadership and community spirit during the club’s annual Past Presidents’ Night.

“If you go back far enough, it was actually the Kinsmen who numbered the streets and houses in St. Marys. We were the ones who did that; I even have a copy of the original map myself. The museum has the other one,” said Wayne Barber, executive committee member with the St. Marys Kinsmen.

Around 30 people attended the event at Barber’s residence. Past presidents as well as former and current members gathered and discussed old memories and past triumphs. Chris Swarthout, who served as past president in 2016-2017, said being in the club is another way for him to connect with the community and that’s the best part about it.

He said it’s rewarding to know their efforts make a difference. The money raised goes toward local improvements like trail upgrades and new lighting, projects he said show how much can be achieved when the community comes together.

“It’s amazing what we can accomplish with the effort we put in. That’s why I’m here. We’ve raised $100,000 for the (Pyramid Recreation Centre) and $5,000 for the tennis court refurbishment,” said Swarthout. “Our biggest fundraiser is the fruit sale and Summerfest. This year, we changed things up and added a concert series with the new carnival company coming in, and it’s been a huge success.”

Each November, the Kinsmen Club of St. Marys helps usher in the holiday season by organizing the town’s annual Santa Claus Parade. The festive event brings the community together with colourful floats, cheerful crowds and the highly anticipated arrival of Santa himself.

As part of St. Marys’ winter celebrations, the club also supports the Winter Lights display at Milt Dunnell Field, where more than 100 light installations are on display with wagon rides and free family activities to light up the season and show the Kinsmen’s continued community commitment.

Though the club works hard to provide for the community, members make sure they have a good time doing it.

“There was a year when we were all at the convention in Sarnia, which was always so much fun. We took a big group down and set up a motorhome in the parking lot. It felt almost like a tailgate,” said Mayor Al Strathdee, past president from 1998-1999. “We wheeled the tables out and had a big party. As president, I loved balancing fellowship with service. We raised money for cystic fibrosis, worked on the Grand Trunk Trail over two seasons and even applied for national recognition for our efforts, though we didn’t get it.”

Strathdee said back then, meetings were always a memorable affair where members showed up in full suit and tie with a strong sense of family and fellowship. The club also dedicated time to working with the cadets, building connections and supporting youth development.

Barber said fellowship is just as important as service, and past presidents provide invaluable insight into what has worked before and what the club should focus on in the future.

“One of our upcoming projects is extending the Grand Trunk Trail with new lighting toward the nursing home. Another thing to mention is our annual Christmas tree pickup which is a great community service project that’s also a social event and that draws a great turnout, helping members make lasting friendships.

“The most rewarding part for me is knowing that we’re doing community service and raising money for the town. We sponsor minor hockey, minor soccer and even the Baseball Hall of Fame,” said Barber. “We respond to so many needs, and honestly, some of these programs might not exist if we didn’t step up. During COVID, we were down to just 13 members, but we kept going.”

Barber explained that joining the club is simple and worthwhile. In the first year, there’s no obligation. Members can try it out and see if it’s a fit. By the second year, there is a small membership fee that helps cover costs since Kinsmen International charges $250 per member. It’s an easy way to get involved and support the club.