The Charter Meeting of the new Leaside Centennial Lions Club was held Saturday night at St Clement of Ohrud Macedonian Church on Overlea Bvd. A guest list of 120 friends old and new met to celebrate the new chapter and plan their public-spirited work into the future. The dinner program began with a welcome from Past District Governor Raija Rosenthal of Leaside. It was a pleasant coincidence that the Forest Hill Lions Club was represented at the meeting. In his remarks, Forest Hill President Eric Feldbloom called it a pleasure for his club to have sponsored the new Leaside chapter, and he remembered how in 1952 it was the Leaside Lions Club that sponsored the Forest Hill Club into existence. The new chapter’s Certificate was presented by Past International Director Terry Graham to Leaside’s Charter President Tulsi Dharel. Mr. Graham then gave the keynote address. The meeting heard in writing from many dignitaries with well wishes. They included Prime Minister Harper, Premier Wynne, MPP John Carmichael, Mayor John Tory and Councillor Jon Burnside. Lion’s Club International President Joe Preston also wrote to congratulate members and to remind them of the organization’s “rich tradition of service” dating back to 1917.
