For more than eight decades, the Fonthill Lions Club has been serving the community. An important part of that commitment is investing in children and youth by helping create opportunities to learn, participate, build confidence and develop leadership skills.
The Club’s support reaches young people in many different ways. Locally, the Fonthill Lions provide scholarships and bursaries to help graduating students continue their education, sponsor local Scouts and support youth sports including baseball, hockey and other community teams and activities.
“Supporting young people is an investment in the future of our community,” said Steve Dube, President of the Fonthill Lions Club. “Whether we are helping a student continue their education, supporting a young athlete or Scout or giving a young person an opportunity to develop confidence and leadership skills, we are helping them grow while strengthening the community we all share.”
The Fonthill Lions also help connect local youth with established Lions programs that encourage communication, creativity, leadership and a broader understanding of the world.
The Lions Effective Speaking program gives students from Grades 4 through 12 an opportunity to develop public-speaking skills, strengthen self-expression and independent thinking and compete with other students at progressively higher levels. Competitions are available in both English and French.
Young artists ages 11 to 13 can participate in the Lions International Peace Poster Competition, using original artwork to express their interpretation of an annual peace theme. The program encourages creativity while inviting young people to think about peace, understanding and their role in the wider world.
For older youth, Lions Youth Camps and Exchange offers young people ages 15 to 22 an opportunity to experience another culture, stay with host families and build friendships with young people from other countries.
The Fonthill Lions’ support for children, youth and families also extends to specialized camps and programs. Organizations the Club supports include Camp Kirk, which serves neurodivergent children and youth, including those with autism, ADHD and learning disabilities; Camp Huronda, which provides camp experiences for children and youth living with Type 1 diabetes; CNIB Lake Joe, which offers programs for children and youth who are blind, Deafblind or have low vision; and Campfire Circle, formerly Camp Trillium, which provides medically supported programs for children with cancer or serious illness and their families.
The Club also supports Lions Camp Dorset, a unique facility that provides vacation opportunities for people requiring dialysis and their families. While Camp Dorset is not specifically a youth camp, its family focus reflects the Fonthill Lions’ broader commitment to helping people facing significant health challenges.
“There are many ways to serve your community and many ways to contribute as a Lion,” Dube added. “If you care about our community and would like to work with others to make a positive difference, we invite you to learn more about becoming a Fonthill Lion.”
For information about the Fonthill Lions Club or membership, email fonthilllions@gmail.com.