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Service clubs mark 100th anniversary with sunrise ceremony (3 photos)

Local Kinsmen and Kinette Clubs celebrate national milestone at city hall

Members from one of the city’s most respected service clubs were up bright and early to mark a special anniversary.

Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020 marked the 100th anniversary of Kin Canada. Timmins City Hall hosted a sunrise flag-raising ceremony. Similar ceremonies were held across Canada.

The area is served by three member organizations: the Timmins Kinsmen, the Timmins Kinettes and the Kinsmen Club of The Porcupine.

“On Feb. 20, 1920, a man named Hal Rogers decided that, because he was not given the opportunity to join a service club, he would be our very first possibility thinker and create his own club so that he could have comradery and do good in his community,” said Dr. Erin Thomson, past national president for Kin Canada. “From that, we now have now expanded to have close to 500 clubs and over 6,000 members across Canada.

“From coast to coast to coast, today Kin members are raising flags at sunrise to celebrate our centennial.”

Mayor George Pirie said the Kinsmen do vital work to help the community. He said more people should get involved with organizations like those under the Kin Canada umbrella.

“When people approach me on the street and say, ‘There is really nothing to do in Timmins,’ I look at them and say, ‘Join a service club’,” he said. “Follow some of these people around on the weekend and see what they do. So, the selfish people in the community will say there’s nothing to do, the selfless people will serve in service clubs.

“They contribute considerable sums to very important projects and they just get on with it, they just do it.”

In addition to raising the Kin Canada flag, Pirie proclaimed it Kin Canada Week in Timmins.

The leaders of the three local clubs talked about their organization.

The Kinsmen Club in Timmins was formed in 1939.

“At one point, it reached a membership as high as 50 members plus a waiting list,” said Patrick Lessard, president of the Timmins Kinsmen. “Back in the 1980s, Kinsmen built the Vic Mahoney Centre, which is now the Community Living building. We are a smaller group now, but full of heart.

“We support The Lord’s Kitchen, The Yo Mobile, Community Living, the Seizure and Brain Injury Centre, and the Terry Fox Run. We hope to continue to grow our membership. One of our national foundations is Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Canada.”

The Porcupine Kinsmen Club was formed in 1972.

“It has been a great club over the years,” said Sam Barbuto, president of the Kinsmen Club of The Porcupine. “(There has been) a lot of contributions to the community. Our flagship is the concession at the Whitney Arena.

“There is lots of sponsorships through that concession, youth awards, various donations within the community. Again, with CF over the years.”

The Timmins Kinette Club started in 1955.

“Your husband had to be a Kinsmen,” said Cindy Caron, president of the Timmins Kinettes. “Things have changed throughout the years. Now, we invite any woman who is willing, empowering — strong women who want to help the community.

“We hold many service projects throughout the community. One of them is Special Olympics, which we have supported for over 40 years. It is very important to us and dear to our heart.

“We are also helping the Anti-Hunger Coalition this weekend with the Coldest Night of the Year, helping the hungry in our community. We also help them out with Empty Bowls and Silent Auction. Other things we do are the CF Walk… and Pub Putt, which is very successful as well.”

For more information about Kin Canada, visit here.

Visit the local clubs on Facebook; Tiimmins Kinsmen, Timmins Kinettes, and Porcupine Kinsmen.