St. George Lions mark 80 years of service with community celebration
- Paris Independent Contributer
- Oct 7
- 2 min read
Paris Independent Staff
Staff Contribution
The St. George Lions Club capped off eight decades of community service with an afternoon of celebration, camaraderie, and gratitude during its 80th Anniversary Open House held Saturday, October 4, at the Gaukel Memorial Community Centre.
Founded in 1945, the St. George Lions Club has long been a cornerstone of community service in the village. The club first formed on March 28, 1945, and received its charter on May 21 of that year, with W.D. Taylor serving as its inaugural president. Eighty years later, current members welcomed residents to reflect on the club’s rich history and ongoing impact.
“We were thrilled to celebrate this amazing milestone with our community,” said club president Renee Wardlaw. Guests enjoyed cake, refreshments, games, face painting, and a slideshow of our club’s history, but most importantly, they had a chance to meet the people behind the Lions and learn about what they do in the community.
The event also supported Vision Month, with attendees encouraged to bring used eyeglasses for donation through the Lions’ international Eyeglass Recycling Program, which refurbishes and distributes glasses to those in need around the world. Visitors also met puppies-in-training from the Lions Foundation of Canada Guide Dog Program, learning about the organization’s work training service dogs for Canadians with disabilities. Green Capes fundraising calendars were available in support of the program.
Wardlaw said the day was as much about looking forward as it was about honouring the past.
“I am so proud to be part of a club with such a strong legacy of service,” she said. “We’re excited about what the future holds and how we can continue to serve our community for many years to come.”
Over the decades, the St. George Lions have contributed to countless local and global initiatives from building ice rinks, tennis courts, and playgrounds to sponsoring youth sports, awarding scholarships, and supporting community organizations. The club has also spearheaded projects such as the Memorial Forest at Elliot Field, the annual Kids’ Bike Rodeo, and numerous park improvements throughout the village.
“Our members work tirelessly all year long at events and through our popular food trailer to raise funds,” said Wardlaw. “We’re deeply grateful to everyone who continues to support us; we couldn’t do what we do without you.”
From its original 26 members in 1945, the St. George Lions Club has grown to 60 active members in 2025. The organization remains part of Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest service club network with more than 1.4 million members across 48,000 clubs worldwide — all united by a shared commitment to service.
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