The Barrhead and District Branch of the Lion’s Club left County of Barrhead council chambers empty-handed after its funding request was denied, joining a line of service clubs.
Club president Claude Blaisius and club secretary Brian Miller met with councillors during their meeting May 2, seeking $1,000 for a new potato peeler and other kitchen appliances to be used by the Hot Lunch program available at Barrhead Composite High School (BCHS) and $6,500 in upgrades for the Sunshine Room at Barrhead Elementary School.
The Sunshine Room is utilized by special-needs children through visual and therapeutic stimulation.
Councillors voted to deny funding and reeve Doug Drozd said the decision was inline with decisions made on similar requests.
The Lion’s Club replaces the original organization that was chartered in 1979 and dissolved in 2006.
“Since I was asked to step in five months ago and start the club back up again in Barrhead, I’ll be honest and admit that we’ve undertaken a few too many projects,” Blaisius said, adding Lion’s Club fundraising activities have not produced as quickly as club members hoped.
Blaisius said Barrhead Elementary School principal Dale Bujold told them about the Sunshine Room.
“We had first approached the schools with the desire to take over the hot-lunch program, but were told that FCSS were already doing that and instead, they asked us to look into the Sunshine Room and see if we would be interested in contributing for upgrades,” Blaisius said, adding it would likely be two years at a minimum before they could raise the necessary funds.
When asked by Coun. Bill Lane whether the club had approached the Pembina Hills school board, Blaisius said no.
“Nobody else, not for this project. We’re in talks with the high school for the hot-lunch program next year and some other equipment they need but we’re just gathering information at this point,” Blaisius said.
However, councillors agreed approving funding requests for operating costs is not in their interest and upheld the long-standing tradition of denying them.
“I don’t think this fits with our financial situation. I don’t know how we could sell this to our taxpayers,” deputy reeve Bill Lee said and Coun. Darrell Troock agreed, adding it would be his suggestion that the Lion’s Club work in collaboration with FCSS.
“We contribute a lot to FCSS. If we have to start dealing with every single group that comes through the door, maybe we need to reassess our relationship with them. But that’s just my opinion,” Troock said, adding it was not council’s job to keep service club’s afloat.
“It just isn’t a good time to be a service club asking council for assistance,” Drozd said.
