Gabriola Island Lions Club

Chartered in 1975 with Life Member Eric Boulton as charter president, the Gabriola Island Lions Club has been an integral part of our island community serving the needs of all our  residents. By joining the club, you will become a member of an amazing team of individuals that contribute to Gabriola Island and, best of all,  have fun doing so! Become involved with the Lions and experience how gratifying it can be! When you join Lions, you join a global service network. So, at the same time you’re doing local community service, you can also contribute to Lions volunteer efforts around the world. Click the button below and fill out the membership form!

 

Join the club

Close
Please fill out the form below and we will contact you.

YOUR GABRIOLA ISLAND LIONS CLUB NEWS & ACHIEVEMENTS

Gabriola Island Lions Club is recognized by Lions International!

Your Gabriola Island Lions Club was awarded the International President’s Certificate for the year 2022 – 2023 in recognition of our on-going service provided to our island community. Yearly, this certificate is awarded to only 3 Lions clubs in the whole world! What a huge honour for us as a club and another incentive that drives us to love and support the people and the island of Gabriola!

 

Our Gabriola Island Lions Club president, Lion Betsy receives the coveted certificate from District Governor Lia at our Lions Christmas party December 12th 2022.

Gabriola Island Lions Club - Lion of the Year 2022

President Lion Betsy presents the Clive Tutty Memorial Award to Lion of the Year, Lion Shirley.

The Gabriola Island Lions Club Lion of the Year for 2022 is Lion Shirley Nicholson.

Lion Shirley exemplifies what being a Lion is all about. She is involved in most, if not all, our community events by lending a helping hand and even providing baked goods to keep the rest of us going. She ensures that our food service is kept to code and is quick to reprimand those not following her strict guidelines. Over the last decade, with her husband Lion Ken, she has volunteered her home and gardens for our annual summer BBQ.

Lion Shirley cares about our island community so much that outside of the Lions, she is involved with our island emergency services volunteering to help others that are experiencing a crisis or helping to operate emergency centers when there are power and communication disruptions. She is involved with GROWLS, our island wildlife rescue services, helping animals that are experiencing a crisis. And there is so much more.

Well done Lion Shirley. You have raised the bar so high it will be difficult to follow your footsteps.

THE CLIVE TUTTY MEMORIAL AWARD FOR LION OF THE YEAR

The Clive Tutty Memorial Award is presented to a Garbiola Island Lions Club member who has best served Lionism for the past 12 months – our Lion of the Year.Clive Tutty was an unsung hero of the Gabriola Lions Club. Clive was one of those guys who always stepped up to the plate when things needed to be done. He was treasurer for 11 years, managed the equipment rentals and was the talent scout for the Concert on the Green to name a few things he had his hand in.Clive suffered a heart attack during a Lions pancake breakfast and passed away shortly after. He was a hardworking member of the Gabriola Lions Club right to the end.

The Gabriola Lions Club Receives a Huge Donation from Ravenskill Cidery

ravenskill check

On January 21st 2023 the Ravenskill Cidery delivered a huge donation to our Gabriola Lions Club. This generous donation cheque of $1185, presented to the Gabriola Island Lions Club by Marti & Keith, Owners of Ravenskill Orchards & Gabbies Premium Cider Ravenskill Orchard to club secretary Carol Martin was over the top. It was a cold January morning, but we all gathered around the heater and warmed up. Quickly into the store, we treated ourselves to cider tastings, loading up on our favourites complete with bags of salted caramels freshly made and bees wax candles. Thank you Marti & Keith. We’ll watch for your orchard tours and u-picks in the coming months.”

 

warm up
The Lions found that warming by the fire really helped the alcohol go down while singing some classic cider shanties.
Belly up to the bar
Lions Kathy and Carol cannot wait for their cider order and if doesn't come soon there may be trouble.
ready to drink
The Gabriola Lions soon learn the cider rule: "If it is clear and yellow, you got juice there fellow. If it's tangy and brown, you're in cider town".

The Gabriola Lions Club Christmas Dinner December 12th 2022

The Gabriola Lions Club were able to once again gather at the Gabriola Golf Course Clubhouse to enjoy a Christmas feast provided by the fabulous Dawn and her catering elves. While we did have some business to attend (don’t we always), there was also much laughter and story telling during the evening. We were so pleased that our district governor Lion Lia Marie was able to attend to enjoy our infectious camaraderie.

Although there were a few lucky winners of fabulous door prizes, most of us left empty and bitter but with full tummies so the night was not all lost.

Lion Kathy stuns her table guests when she totally messes up the lyrics to Jingle Bells.
Lion Eric is shocked to find out later that he could have sat at a better table.
Lion Shirley did win the Lion of the Year award so we forgave her for being first in the food lineup.

The Gabriola Community Bulletin Board Replacement Project

community bulletin boards

Located beside Gabriola Island’s mailboxes we find our community bulletin boards where many residents post notices and advertise services. It was brought to our club’s attention that most of these boards condition were in a very sad state of affair. Many had fallen down and many others were about to have the same fate. Someone needed to intervene.

Step up your Gabriola Island Lions Club!

Our club decided that this would be a great community project that we could undertake. Lion’s Doug, Graham and Jon secured donating partners from Arbutus Building Supply, Boulton Farm and Gabriola Gravel & Excavating and then moved forward by building the bulletin boards with a team of volunteers during the spring and summer of 2022. During October of the same year, a group of Lions and non-Lion volunteers descended around the island to anchor posts and secure 42 brand new, awesome-looking bulletin boards.

From Lions Doug: “Thanks to Jon, Graham and Gisela for helping cut the material and assemble and stain the message boards and to all those who helped dig and concrete in the 42 steel posts. Thanks also to Lion Bob Rooks for donating the steel posts to the cause and to Lion Eric for donating all the cedar boards. Their generosity plus that of Arbutus Lumber saved our club literally thousands of dollars”.

 Well done Gabriola Island Lions Club!

where did the post go
With the price of gas these days, Lions Mike, Graham & Larry were really wanting to strike oil.
leveling the posts
While the bulletin board post appears to be level, our club president - not so much.
drilling for oil
Lion Mike decides his old fashioned way is still faster than some fancy powered contraption.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Concert on the Green August 10th 2023

The Gabriola Lions Club is extremely pleased to announce that Tom Lavin & The Legendary Powder Blues Band is coming to Gabriola Island this summer as the main act for this year's Concert on the Green! Opening for the Powder Blues is Gabriola's own The Road Poets. This year's family fun event promises to be one for the books. More details are coming soon so stay tuned!

The Gabriola Lions Club Key Programs

wood program

Wood Program

Firewood

The wood program is a signature program for the Gabriola Island Lions Club. We collect donated wood, split the wood and season it for the winter season. This essential program helps any Gabriolan in need of winter firewood.

 

Medical Clinic

Our Clinic

The Gabriola Island Lions Club has supported our community medical clinic since its inception. Today, the Lions maintain the property landscaping, fund critical medical equipment and any other services required.

Our Community

Community

The Gabriola Island Lions Club provides funding and services to our community including the PHC, the community hall, the elementary school PAC, scholarships for graduating Gabriola students, the agricultural hall and the Gabriola museum among many, many others.

lions at work

Who are the Lions?

The International Association of Lions Clubs, headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, is an organization of distinct, independent, service clubs, such as the Gabriola Lions Club.

Founded in 1917, Lions Clubs International is one of the oldest service club organizations in the world; It is the largest, and the most active, community service organization in the world; It is an organization whose basic cause has bound Lions clubs together for generations. There are now more than 46,000 Lions Clubs and 1,400,000 Lions located in 210 countries and geographic areas worldwide.

Meet Some of Your Lions

lion eric

Lion Eric Boulton – Lifetime Member and Charter President of the Gabriola Lions. Fun fact: Back in the 60’s his band, Eric Boulton and the Animals, had some big hits on the Billboard charts.
lion dixon

Dixon Kenny – recent recipient of the prestigious Judge Brian Stevenson Fellowship award. Dixon is also obsessed with eradicating Scotch Broom on the island as well as his neighbours.

lion john

Lion John Coleman – recipient of the Centennial Gold Pin and one of the best guys you would ever meet. John is what a Lion is all about. His dedication and humour is paramount!

lions betsy & mike

Lion Mike Phillips receiving the Gold Centennial Pin from President Lion Betsy in front of some of the firewood that we provide to anyone in need of winter warmth and a very supportive and vocal Golden Retriever. Thank you Mike for taking our signature club program to being what Lions are all about.

Key Lions Service Activities

Lions support sight programs and services including vision screenings, eye banks and eyeglass recycling, and provide eye care services to those at risk of losing their sight. From providing health programs that focus on hearing loss to supporting efforts to control and prevent diabetes, Lions volunteers are working to improve the health of children and adults around the world. By providing volunteer opportunities and leadership experiences, and in sharing a message of peace through an annual Peace Poster contest, Lions invest in the future by reaching out to young people. From performing hands–on community work and service projects to providing emergency assistance, Lions participate in community and environment programs that improve our communities and protect the environment.

No matter where located or how designated, all Lions are bound by a common spirit, united in helping those less fortunate. Our motto is simple: “We Serve”.

hunger

Hunger

We serve to improve human flourishing. We see how the global hunger and nutrition crisis bears upon our local communities, and believe true community improvement depends on the thriving of its members. Lions and Leos serve to improve human flourishing, and we see how the global hunger and nutrition crisis bears upon our local communities. We believe community improvement depends on the thriving of its members.

Our strategic objective is to ensure all community members have access to nutritious foods.

environment

Environment

The earth sustains human life. We’ve seen how our stewardship of natural resources can improve quality of life and increase engagement in our local communities. Our environment is more than a background: it’s our home. And we’re committed to caring for it. Lions and Leos serve to strengthen the relationship between the community and its environment. We’ve seen how our stewardship of natural resources can improve quality of life and increase engagement in our local communities.

Our strategic objective is to sustainably protect and restore our environment to improve the well-being of all communities.

diabetes

Diabetes

The International Diabetes Federation reports that 1 in 2 people with diabetes are undiagnosed. Lions recognize the needs of the world are changing, and have championed the cause of diabetes to better serve both our communities and the world. Serving in diverse communities all over the world, we see and feel the effects of diabetes and are doing something about it together.

Our strategy is to reduce the prevalence of diabetes and improve quality of life for those diagnosed.

vision

Vision

Lions are known throughout the world for their work to improve the lives of the visually impaired and prevent avoidable blindness. LCIF proudly serves their continued efforts by offering unique and impactful initiatives, programs and grants. We have a long history of serving the blind and visually impaired, and remain committed to continuing this mission into our next century of service.

Our strategic objective is to prevent avoidable blindness and improve quality of life for people who are blind and visually impaired.

childhood cancer

Childhood Cancer

LCIF provides funding support to Lions and has developed strategic partnerships to help improve outcomes for children with cancer. Lions and Leos provide support for the needs of children and families affected by childhood cancer through impactful service activities. Lions and Leos provide support for the needs of children and families affected by childhood cancer through impactful service activities.

Our plan is to increase acts of support to families and children affected by childhood cancer and to improve diagnostics, treatment, and continued care to those affected by childhood cancer.