• December, 2009:   Lions Electric scooter Donated to Seniors Residence

The Markham LionsClub donates the use of their electric mobility scooter to the Seniors residence at 20 Water St. aka  Cedar Crest Manor. Here Lion Bill Hosking

presents the keys for the scooter to Linda Guiston; Manager of Water Street Non Profit Homes. Looking on are Board Members Margaret Yade and Barbara Pedley.

 •   October, 2009 Markham Lions and MedicAlert come together for the                                                No Child Without Program

  The Lions Clubs of Canada and the Canadian MedicAlert Foundation have come together to protect elementary-school-aged children from unforeseen medical emergencies through the No Child Without program (NCW).  With this partnership, children ages 4 - 14 with pre-existing medical conditions or allergies will receive a free MedicAlert bracelet and membership, ensuring that first responders will have access to the student’s vital health information during a medical emergency. 

  The Markham Lions have directly funded students  that attend William Armstrong Public School and St. Patrick’s School as the initial phase of the program. The Lions will continue to fund additional schools in Markham every year until all children with pre-existing medical conditions or allergies are protected.  Across Canada, at least 10 per cent of children have a condition that warrants MedicAlert.

   Principal Blair Pike and a student,Nicole, receive the first MedicAlert bracelet from the Markham Lions, Lions Canada Directors and MedicAlert officials

•   June,2009  Markham Lions Club  Exhibit  Features 65 Years of 

                                             Community Support

The Markham Lions Club  celebrated the opening of the Club Exhibit and Memorabilia Room in the Print Shop Building at the Markham Museum  with

 Mayor Frank Scarpitti  cutting the ceremonial opening ribbon on Saturday,

 June 13,2009.

   The Markham Lions Club received an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant to collect and organize the Club’s memorabilia in a single location. This grant enabled the Lions to create an exhibit that highlights 65 years of achievements and activities, that have helped make a difference in the lives of many Markham citizens.

   Over the years, the Lions have helped in the establishment of the Markham Museum by buying , moving and rebuilding a heritage church on the Museum grounds and contributing to the purchase of a heritage cabin.

•  November, 2009:Markham Students Compete in Lions                                                                                  Peace Poster Contest

  The Markham Lions Club  proudly sponsors the Lions International Peace Poster Contest in Markham schools. This Contest encourages young people worldwide,11 to 13 years old,  to artistically express their visions of peace. The theme of the 2009-10 Peace Poster Contest was "Vision of Peace”.  

  Posters advance through local, district, multiple district and international levels of judging. At the international level, judges select 23 merit award winners and one grand prize winner who will receive a trip  to the United Nations, an engraved plaque and a cash prize of US$2,500.

  This year a total of 90 students at James Robinson Public School and Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Elementary School competed in the contest and many unique and beautiful posters were created by these young artists. Principal Jim Spiers writes that the Lions Peace Poster Contest fits perfectly with the initiatives of  William Robertson School which involves the preparation of learners to be responsible, caring and contributing citizens. Art teacher Mme.Damtsis writes that the students felt that they were doing their part to promote peace in the world and it was exciting to see their creativity emerge.

  Shown here at James Robinson Public School are the Grade 7 winner Valerie, Grade 8 winner Shirley with teacher Mme. Damtsis and Lion Jim Doak, Markham Lions Youth Chairperson.

                                Grade 8 winner,Camille at Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic

                             Elementary School with teacher Ms. Hurrle.

•  June, 2009: Wiliam Armstrong School Thanks the Lions for their Support

    This the second year that the Markham  Lions have BBQ'ed hundreds of hamburgers and hotdogs for the students and their parents at William Armstrong Public School's " Really Fun Spring Fair" . The Lions love to see happy kids!!

   The students have sent the Club a thank you letter and a poster hand-painted by one of the students. Thanks kids and see you next year!!

•  June,2009: Used Eye-glass Collection Means New Sight

                                        In Third World Countries

The Markham Lions have been collecting used eye-glasses for use in Third world countries for several years. There are 12 collection locations  at optometrists and pharmacies throughout Markham. For a list of these collection locations,

                   click here.

(Left) Lion Bill Hosking is loading up his car for the delivery of over 3,000 eye-glasses for delivery to Calgary where prison inmates identify the prescription of the lenses so that  a match can be found for a person in a Third World country.   

(Right)Lion President Jack McBride presents optometrist Dr.Linda Kuehn with a certificate of appreciation for her support of the program.

•   June, 2009: Three MLC Members become Melvin Jones Fellows                                       

 The Markham Lions Club honours members of our Club who have made outstanding contrtibutions to the Club and to the betterment of  their community as well as  mankind throughout the world. The Melvin Jones  Fellowship honours the founder of  Lions Clubs International and is the highest form of recognition conferred on a Lion by the foundation. The award represents a member’s total dedication to making the world a better place to live through his service to all mankind.

The Executive, Planning and Awards Committee  announced that this year the Markham Lions Club is awarding  Melvin Jones Fellowships to  Lion Carl Wride, Lion Jack Dawson and Region Chair David Hitchen and below are receiving the awards from Lion President Jack

•  May,2009: Sleeping Children Around the World : a Special Cause

                                         for the Markham Lions    

Over the years,the Markham Lions have supported this Canadian organization that has supplied over a million bed-kits to children around the world that do not have a bed to sleep in. This year the Club supported the Sleeping Children Around the World Gala presented by St Andrew’s United Church –Markham. Lion President Jack McBride presents a cheque for $640 to Dave Dryden, SCAW CEO at the Gala. The Club also presented the Lions story to over 400 attendees through a booth in the foyer,attended by Lions Ken Harris and Jack McBride.

• April 2009:   Markham Lions Support the Oakville Dog Guide 

                                   Facility Expansion

Sixteen Markham Lions members visited the Lions Foudation of Canada in Oakville to view the facility and present the management with a cheque for $2,000 in support oftheir kennel expansion and $6,000 to cover part of the cost of training a Dog Guide. This facility trains over 100 dogs every year to be four types of Dog Guides: Seizure Response, Canine Vision, Hearing Aide Dogs Guides or Special Skill Dog Guides.

•  December, 2008: Markham Lions Mind The Kettle

•   November,2008:  Markham Lion Celebrates 65 year Membership                                           
At the Markham Lions Charter Night celebrations on November 8, Lion Frank Del Vecchio presents 95 year-young Lion Carman Lewis with a 65 year Perfect Attendance pin while Lion President Jack McBride looks on. 

                                            Attendance Awards

At the Markham Lions Charter Night, eleven Lions received their Long-Term Perfect Attendance Pins as follows:  

              25 years

 Lions Carl Vanseader, Karim Moosabhoy,                                 35 Years                                 Ken Tranter                           Lions Bill Dewberry, Carl Wride,

                                                                                                Jim Wicks                

         40 Years                                                                 35 Years

 Lions Don Way, Jim Thomson                                          Lion Grant Malcolm

(absent Lion Fred Sheehy)           

                                                     45 Years

                                RC David Hitchen presents pin to Tom Goldring                                                                  

                                       as a Charter Year Initiative

 The Markham Lions, in celebration of their 65 years of service, have been supporting the Markham Food Bank in 2009. Club officials met with the Food Bank management and developed a plan for assisting the Food Bank in picking up food from the schools and sorting food donations at the Food Bank. To date, the Club has donated over 200 volunteer hours to assist the Food Bank in meeting the needs of the hungry families in the Markham area. Lions Larry Tod, Jim Thomson and Ken Harris are shown sorting and packing donated food.

  In addition, the Club  presented a $680 cheque to the FoodBank obtained through a Charter Night raffle of gift baskets. Lion President Jack McBride(left) is seen receiving the cheque from Charter Night Chair George McKelvey and Committee members Lions Jim Wicks and Bill Dewberry.  

•  September,2008: Markham Lions Donate Electric Scooter

                                          
The Markham Lions recently provided an electric scooter to Heather Elliott of Markham who is a cancer patient and has difficulty walking. Shown here are Lions John Bell and Bill Hosking presenting the scooter to Heather.

•  June,2008: Markham Lions Receive Grant from the Trillium Fund                                      
On September27, the Markham Lions were presented with a cheque for $71,700 to create and produce a permanent display at the Markham Museum to show the history of the Club and to promote volunteerism in Markham.Shown here are the members receiving the cheque with city and federal  and provincial government officials.

The Markham Lions Club has signed on as an active player in ending hunger in developing countries. Early in 2008, they provided funds to this Canadian Foodgrains Bank member to cover the costs of seed and fertilizer to grow corn on a field located on the corner of Highway #7 and Ninth Line in Markham.  
The costs of the land and harvesting were donated by the farmer and it is expected that this will the first of many Foodgrain Projects to be sponsored by the 52 clubs in District A16.
The Canadian Foodgrains Bank is a partnership of Canadian church-based agencies and their local sponsors to end hunger and create food security. Funds raised by the Foodgrain Bank members are eligible for a 4:1 match from the federal Canadian International Development Agency.

                                   at the Markham Fall Fair 

It’s part of our long history and every member and their spouse takes a 2-3 shifts as we feed the 40,000 attendees at this popular fair. It’s hard work sometimes and we are always rushed off our feet but it’s well worth the effort as we raise funds to help the less fortunate in our area.                                       

This four –day event is our major fund-raiser and we are grateful for the help we get from the Girl Guides, the AirCadets, high school students and many friends every year.

Past President David Hitchen hands over the gavel to incoming Markham Lions Club President Grace Medland. This occasion marks the induction of the first lady president in the 64 year history of the Markham Club.

•   September,2007: Markham Lions Grow                                                                                    
The Markham Lions have had a successful new member campaign, inducting 9 new Lions from March to September,2007. The Membership Committee Chair, Lion Ken Harris, far left, and Lion President, David Hitchen, far right, are shown here congratulating new Lions John Styles, Frank Delvecchio, Ron Chambers and Greg Garach.

The Markham Lions Club was pleased to honour three of its members with Melvin Jones Fellowships for their active participation in the club and their dedication to Lionism over many years.  Lion President Grace Medland presents Melvin Jones Fellow Awards to Lions Ken Harris, Jim Thompson and Grant Malcolm .

Markham Lion members assisted by students from Brother Andre High School continued their annual trash clean-up of the Mount Joy pond  area in the northern part of Markham. The Lions have accepted responsibility for this area and the Town of Markham appreciates their efforts to keep this area of the town clean.

                                   Markham Kindergartens

For several years, the Markham Lions Club members have checked the vision of hundreds of kindergarten children in Markham. These simple vision tests have uncovered many children with possible eye defects and the parent were advised to have their child’s eyes checked soon by a professional optometrist. These tests have proven effective to find the children at this entry level who may have problems seeing properly in the classroom.

Markham Lions President David Hitchen presents Bev Berger and her guide-dog Jasper with a cheque for $6,000 to support the efforts of the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guide School in Oakville. This is an annual sponsorship to cover part of the cost of training a DogGuide and recipient team.

Region Chair David Hitchen, on the left, and two friends Justin Bell and Suresh Persaud were presented with special awards by the Markham Lions for their unique effort to end world blindness. This trio walked from Markham to Union Station in Toronto, a distance of  35 kilometers, to raise $2,000 for the Sight First II Fund. Their action prevented over 300 people in the world from going blind.

Alexandra Russell, shown here with Markham Lions Dick Sheehy, Grace Medland and David Hitchen, won first place in the Lions Effective Speaking Contest at the MDA”A” finals in Ottawa on April 29. Alexandra  won the Senior French Speaking title and thanked the Lions for sponsoring her over the years.

It was a cold and blustery March 1  but ten Markham Lions delivered  2500 bunches of  tulips to 80 Markham businesses to support the work of the Lung Association. Every year, the Lung Association in York Region selltulips to  Markham businesses which they deliver on March 1 as a signthat spring is just around the corner. 

Lion Don Rattle, Avril Belmar, Area Manager, Lung Association, Lion Larry Tod

Weeks of hard work proved to be worth it this spring as the total Markham Lion membership got out and sold over $30,000 of annual flowers. It was a damp and cold week but Lions Dave Gallaway, Fred Sheehy, Jack Dawson and driver, Ken Otter persevered to deliver thousands of plants to all the members’ homes.

The Markham Lions Club presented a $60,000 cheque to the Markham Stouffville Hospital . These funds will be used for the much needed  refurnishing of the  Intensive Care Unit  quiet room as well as the relocation and furnishing of the Pallative Care quiet room in the hospital. This project will be completed by      April 1,2006.

  Standing, from the left, are  Markham Lions Club President Ken Harris, Chad Hanna, President, Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation and Ken Tranter, Chairman, Health Services, Markham Lions Club.