The Way It Was: Windsor Downtown Lions Club Celebrates 100 Years

THE WAY IT WAS The “Windsor” Idea . . . A Tradition For Building A Capacity For Social Change By Andrea Grimes

Looking back on Windsor’s history, one might ask, “What did Windsor have going for itself, having just stepped out of the Great War?”

Our battle-hardened Veterans were coming home. They were torn inside-out suffering from the unimaginable horrors of war; those which tormented them relentlessly . . . forever changing their lives!

Canada owed a debt of gratitude to our Veterans, and as such, Windsor was determined to recognize the sacrifice our Veterans made to preserve our Canadian values of democracy. However, as our community was rebounding from the Great War, there just weren’t the essential resources at hand to provide the social support our Veterans needed to get back on their feet.

Many of our leading citizens were motivated by their patriotic responsibility to support our Veterans. Under the auspices of their civic groups, members laid the foundations for the provision of humanitarian relief for families whose lives were marginalized by war.

One such organization (with a 100 year presence in our city) is the Windsor Downtown Lions Club. According to an article published in the Border Cities Lions Club Magazine, “Canada’s first Lions Club was founded in Windsor, Ontario on March 12, 1920. Despite the youth and inexperience of this first Canadian Club, it is making rapid progress on the work of LIONISM.” At the Border Cities Lions Club first ladies’ night dinner held May 24, 1920, the Club’s President J.R. Hewer said,“One thing we should do is to stand behind any move for the betterment of the men who fought for us in France.”

According to an article published in the Border Cities Star on July 20, 1920, “The Lions Club-hosted benefit faire, held at the Windsor Armouries, proved to be a success.” The article noted that 20 vendors set up stalls, (one in particular being the Ye Isaac Walton Fish Pond). Four bands and Vaudeville acts entertained guests with the $1,000 generated from the event donated to the Veterans Social Fund for Veterans convalescing in Hôtel-Dieu Hospital.

Archives show that, since 1920, the Club has successfully sponsored notable projects which funded a variety of services and programs for the benefit of our community. Valerie Burningham, Windsor Downtown Lions Club, Second Vice District Governor (District A-1) says, “One of the Club’s most ambitions achievements was the opening of the Lions Manor in 1979. Our members also fundraised to build a swimming pool and skating rink complex at the Lions Community Centre in Lanspeary Park in the 1950s. The Club continues its presence in the community.” To commemorate the Club’s 100th anniversary in March 2020, Windsor artist/ sculptor Mark Williams was commissioned to design and create a statue of Helen Keller. The memorial serves to recognize Keller as a legendary pioneer committed to enhancing the quality of life for individuals whose lives are impacted by vision and/or hearing loss.

Throughout her life, Keller was committed to improving the economic, social and psychological lives of returning Veterans who lost their sight in combat in the Great War, the Second World War and the Korean War.

Although implementing sustainable This bronze statue of Helen Keller, commemorating the Windsor Downtown Lions Club 100th anniversary, was designed and created by Windsor’s artist and sculptor, Mark Williams. Photo courtesy of The Windsor Downtown Lions Club.

solutions to address our community’s eco-social challenges has changed over the decades, the Club’s central purpose remains constant. As Burningham states, it is: “To empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions’ Clubs.” To quote Keller (The Home Magazine, September 1930); “If we do not like our work, and do not try to get happiness out of it, we are a menace to our profession, as well as to ourselves.”

The Lions Club’s 100 year history will be recognized with a roaring centennial commemoration on March 21, 2020 at the Caboto Club. For ticket information, contact Lion Dave Balmos by email: davecarol@sympatico.ca or call: 519-791-8714. As a civilian Veterans Advocate, Andrea Grimes was presented with the “Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal” and the “Governor General’s Medal” recognizing her volunteer service to Veterans and military families of our Canadian Armed Forces, as well as with military family service-support organizations to include, North Wall Riders Association, Windsor Veterans Memorial Service Committee, Military Institute of Windsor, the Royal Canadian Naval Association, the Korean War Veterans Association and the Canadian Historical Aircraft Association. Writing for Biz X magazine since 2012, Andrea has brought our community closer to recognizing our Veterans for their military service and the sacrifices made to preserve our Canadian values of democracy.