Burstall & District Lions Club celebrates 60th anniversary
By Joan Janzen
BURSTALL - It is a major accomplishment for a club to continue serving during the span of sixty years, but that's exactly what the Burstall and District Lions Club celebrated on March 29. A fun evening was held, including a murder mystery dinner theatre and a statement given by founding member Erwin Becker from Medicine Hat. Erwin Becker and Bill Albrecht are two of the remaining original members.
Erwin Becker, a founding member of the Burstall & District Lions Club, spoke at the club's 60th anniversary celebration on March 29. Photo by Angie Langridge
"Never did I think I would be at this celebration tonight. We chartered 27 members, and I am the only member who is able to come and take part of this celebration," he said. "As a Lions member I am very thankful for every member that helped keep this club alive." It was obviously an emotional moment for Erwin.
During the past sixty years the Burstall Lions Club has contributed over $500,000 to the community. Lions Club members have volunteered thousands of hours to build recreation and other community facilities. Not only was Erwin involved in those projects, but he also passed his love of volunteerism on to his children and grandchildren.
His granddaughter Angie Langridge from Burstall said her grandfather's role in helping to charter the Lions Club in Burstall had a significant impact on their family. Her father and brother were both members of the Burstall Lions Club, and Angie and her mother helped form the Burstall Border Town Ladies Lions Club in 2012, which currently has 18 active members.
Angie said her grandfather was instrumental in helping build the local arena, curling rink, swimming pool, and Lions Park. We have also grown the Lions' community by chartering two new clubs," she said.
Members of the Lions Club also enjoy the friendship, camaraderie and fun times while contributing to the community. Erwin recalled one of those fun-filled memories when someone donated a live donkey to the club in the 1970s.
"We sat around the supper table deciding what to do with the donkey. One of the members took care of it," Erwin recalled. But there came a point in time when they had to decide what they would do with the donkey. "We took it to Gull Lake and presented Gull Lake with that donkey," he concluded.
However, his granddaughter said, "What means the most to him is seeing the impact his efforts continue to have. He's had the joy of watching his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even great-great-grandchildren skate on the ice at the Burstall Arena. Every time he steps into that arena, knowing he helped make it possible, he can't help but feel proud."