North Bay Lions Telethon & Bonfield Streaming Party

The North Bay and area Lions hold a telethon each year to raise money to give kids and families a Merry Christmas.  One of the clubs involved, the Bonfield Lions, had a streaming party this year at their clubhouse to support the telethon.

Bonfield is a small community about ½ hour outside of North Bay and decided to have a fundraiser for the telethon.  With the help of local businessman, Rolly Desgroseilliers of Rolly’s Pit Stop, they had games, food and a turkey draw.

For the turkey draw, Rolly went to businesses and individuals in the community to donate money or gifts for the draws, with the money being used to purchase turkeys and hams to raffle.  Between turkeys, hams, toys and other gifts, everyone had a chance to win a prize.  With the telethon playing on the television, the fun began with the raffle.  Each round of draws was met with shouts of joy, laughter and groans of defeat from those that didn’t win.  At the and, the raffle raised more than $1,500.00 that was donated to the telethon.

In the meantime at Canadore College, the broadcast students from Canadore College and the Lions were involved with the production of the telethon.  Several of the local Lions clubs, including the Widdifield Lions, donated to the cause as well as volunteering for the event.  There were several acts including The Hurricanes and Jennifer Plummer to keep those watching tapping their toes and donating.  Shown on Cogeco, the telethon raised more than $23,000.00 to give a little bit of help to those in need this Christmas season.  Looking forward to next year’s production.

Bonfield Lions & Canada Day Celebrations

The Lions always support their community and the Bonfield Canada Day was no exception.  On the Canada Day weekend, the Bonfield Lions set put their tent to sell “Duckies” as a fundraiser.  This is an annual fundraiser and a lot of fun for the community as a whole.  In addition, the club takes care of all the maintenance and repairs and tours of the train and “Zero Mile” display in the park.

The township had a free BBQ and cake to celebrate the day, as well as vendors, a bike rodeo for the kids and other fun activities.  The Bonfield firemen were there in force with their display and to give mouth to mouth for anyone who felt faint.    We had a few ladies that wouldn’t have minded.  lol

In the afternoon, the big event of the day got ready to go ahead, the Duck Race.  500 yellow duck of all styles were sorted and loaded into the wagon and taken to the bridge at the head of the river.  They were loaded onto a tarp and with the help of our friendly firemen, they were dumped into the river and the race was on.

At the assigned location, the Lions and volunteers were ready to catch the first 3 ducks as the winners.  This included a spotter to make sure the first three were picked out by the Lions in the river.  The winning numbers of 364, 499 and 500 came in and prizes were awarded of $250.00, $150.00 and $100.00.  All of the proceeds of the duck race went to a hockey team from Corbeil, Astorville and Bonfield, which is part of the Bonfield Lions area.

It was this reporter’s first time seeing a duck race in person it was a lot of fun.  Boy can those ducks swim fast.  You have to be on the ball to grab the first three across the finish line.  The only thing left after that was to catch the rest of the ducks and put them away again for the next time they were needed.  It took some convincing to get some of the kids to not take their ducks home with them as they would be needed again next year.  Great time and race.

Several of the clubs in the A5 District presented awards to celebrate their Lions and the great job that they do for the clubs and their communities.  Thank you to all of the recipients for their dedicated service and ongoing support of the values of Lionism.

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1st photo- Walden Lions-Lion Betty Walton, Lion Brian Walton- Melvin Jones recipient, President Lion Don Raymond.  Lion Brian is the only chartered member left in the club

 

2nd photo- Bonfield Lions- Melvin Jones recipients Lion Chris Snook, Lion Holly Menard, A5 Hearing Chair Lion Margo Oleskiw

3rd to 5th photos- Charlton Englehart Lions- President Lion Brian Jolkowski presenting Lion Ralph Ellerton with Lion of the Year, Lion Rhonda McCallum with the Judge Brian Stevenson Award and IPDG Lion Bob Beaven with the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award

Region 17 Rally

Another successful Region Rally for Region 17 in District A5. Given the area that A5 covers, it is not easy for all clubs even in a region to get together. I am proud to say that the Region Rallies are one exception. The rally was well attended at the Bonfield Lions Club . Clubs got to meet the candidates and get their pictures taken with our District Governor, Lion Carmen Portelance and the co-vid Lion. We also had several Past District Governor’s attend this meeting to support the clubs and the elections. Another very successful Rally held by Region 17.