The History of Lions in A-3
(As of 2024)
In the Beginning
December 20, 2023
In the beginning Melvin Jones in 1917 created a Service organization which was appropriately called a Lions Club. This was indeed a formidable task!
Just prior to 1917 there was organizational chaos as a large number of community organizations which all had worth-while ideals and plans were competing for members. These organizations ranged from Box Clubs, Burial Societies, Fraternal groups, Churches with their various clubs, Business-men’s Clubs and now Service Clubs were in their infancy. Some of these organizations survived, some changed their original purpose and a large number just disappeared for various reasons.
The Lion’s organization struck a chord with men and it grew quickly and by 1920 with the formation of the Windsor Lions Club in Ontario, Canada, Lions became officially the International Association of Lions Clubs. Commonly referred to as Lions International and more currently the acronym LCI (Lions Clubs International).
We, the Lions of Lions Clubs International are blessed with a rich history, one that should be preserved and well known by our members. District A-3 was one of the earliest Districts to be formed in Canada.
Lion Frank Hewitt a 2-time District Governor of A-3, Past International Directory Terry Graham and Lion Ray Charbonneau, Multiple District A Historian have provided enthusiastic support for the History of A-3 to be recorded and saved for future Lions. As the Chair of the A-3 History Committee I have been blessed with the assistance and knowledge of PDG Dave Hansen 1976/77, PDG John Thompson 1980/81, Past International Directory (PID) Terry Graham 2005-2007, Lion Rachel St. Croix, Web Master and Lion Cathy Galt, editor.
I hope you, the reader as a Lion or will be Lion soon, can glean some insight into our well recognized service organization.
The following documents come from many sources. Some of the articles have been well researched and professional presented other writers like myself have tried to recall events to the best of our recollection. When you find errors, omissions or new information please contact the Lion that is the current Historian of A-3 and ask that the proper correction or update be made. This is a living document and it is up to the Lions of A-3 to keep it up to date. Please Help!
PDG Lion Dr. Doug Galt 1973/74
History Committee Chair
- Lions Emblem history
Section 2 - Canadian Lion History
- Lionism in Canada 1920 – 2020
- First Lions Club by province in Canada
- Friendship Arch - First Norwood
Section 3 - Multiple District History
- 1937 District Convention
Section 4 - District A-3 History
Past District Governors of District A3
YEAR NAME CLUB
1938 - 1939* J Brown Bowmanville
1939 - 1940* Dr Charles Linton New Toronto
1940 - 1941* Clifford Cotter Ottawa
1941 - 1942* George M. Bosnell Toronto
1942 - 1943* E.W. Crawford Bowmanville
1943 - 1944* Ernie Houghton Toronto
1944 -1945* Dr. Ken H. Rogers Toronto
1945 -1946* Charles W.Caner Bowmanville
1946 - 1947* Dr. R. B. Benard Orillia
1947 - 1948* Gordon Belyea Toronto
1948 -1949* Stanley Darling Peterborough
1949 -1950* Roben M. Little Richmond Hill
1950 - 1951* A.B. Lent Port Hope
1951 - 1952* J. Ross Burke Kingston
1952 - 1953* Sigmund Wessman Deseronto
1953 - 1954* Victor Frederick Peterborough
1954 - 1955* Larry McCanhy Cobourg
1954 - 1955* Nostrand Sprague Trenton
1955 - 1956* Whitney Mantin Bancroft
1956 - 1957* James C. Johns Frankford
1957 - 1958* Herbert L. Goddard Bowmanville
1958 - 1959* A. W. Thompson Kingston
1959 - 1960* Dr. R. E. Jamieson Coboconk
1960 - 1961* T. James Clarke Campbellford
1961 - 1962* R.Brenton Rickard Newcastle
1962 - 1963* Robert Garden Norwood
1963 - 1964* J. Ross Oliphant Peterborough
1964 - 1965* Terry C. Evans Havelock
1965 - 1966* Herbert Wark Brockville
1966 - 1967* Hank Tamblyn Lindsay
1967 - 1968* Herb Visser Whitby
1968 - 1969* Ronald Wismer Millbrook
1969 - 1970* Storey Beare Port Perry
1970 - 1971 Donald E. Jones Norwood
1971 - 1972* Robert Reid Trenton
1972 - 1973* William H. Maguire Cobourg
1973 - 1974 Dr. Doug Galt Brighton
1974 - 1975* Wes Oakley Ajax
1975 - 1976* Ed Leslie Bowmanville
1976 - 1977 Dave Hansen Sharbot Lake
1977 - 1978* Graham Law Cobourg
1978 - 1979 Harvey Moore Brighton
1979 - 1980 Sam Camilleri Amherstview
1980 - 1981 John Thompson Trenton
1981 - 1982* J. Don Marsden Bowmanville
1962 - 1983 Ron Moir Verona
1963 - 1984 Russ Mitchell Marmora
1964 - 1985* Len Welch East Peterborough
1985 - 1986 Malcolm MacLean Deseronto
1986 - 1987* William H. Deyoung Frankford
1987 - 1988* Earl Digweed Lakefield
1988 - 1989 Erwood Reynolds Napanee
1989 - 1990* Doug Frost Frankford
1990 - 1991* Bill Shaw East Peterborough
1991 - 1992 Frank Stewart Norwood
1992 - 1993* Keith Taber Wellington
1993 - 1994* Ralph Foden Cobourg
1994 - 1995 Bob VanWort Bewdley
1995 - 1996.. Richard Cooper Madoc-Tweed
1996 - 1997.. Jon Moore Deseronto
1997 - 1996 George Fournier Kingston
1996 - 1999 Graham Lewis Peterborough
1999 - 2000 Bob Taylor Land 0' Lakes
2000 - 2001 Terry Graham Newcastle
2001 - 2002 Harry Marissen Belleville
2002 - 2003.. Rick Thibodeau Verona
2003 - 2004.. Dan Davis Deseronto
2004 - 2005 Eric Holmden Campbellford
2005 - 2006* Gail Hodgson Bewdley
2006 - 2007* Jim Lemoire Trenton
2007 - 2008 Victor Smith Newburgh-Camden
2008 - 2009 David Bolton Keene
2009 - 2010 Bill Lewis Stirling
2010 - 2011 Gord Taylor Millbrook
2011 - 2012 Earl Oliver Norwood
2012 - 2013 Mary Ann Smith Newburg-Camden
2013 - 2014 Albert Munneke Millbrook
2014 - 2015 Linda Duffie Bowmanville
2015 - 2016 Janet Marisson Wellington
2016 - 2017 John Whyte Wellington
2017 - 2018 William Zwier Sharbot Lake
2018 - 2019 Frank Hewitt East Peterborough
2019 - 2020 Susan Taylor Chemung Lake District
2020 - 2021 Don Radnor Havelock Lions Club
2021 - 2022 Mark Kelso Trenton Lions Club
2022 - 2023 Linda Zwier Sharbot Lake
2023 - 2024
* deceased .. no longer in District
Section 5 - A-3 information by the year of our Past District Governors:
- Whitney Martin - 1954 - 1955
- Robert Garden - 1962 - 1963
- Don Jones OB. - 1970 - 1971
- Doug Galt - 1973 - 1974
- Wes Oakley - 1974 - 1975
- Dave Hansen - 1976 - 1977
- Sam Camilleri - 1979 - 1980
- John Thompson - 1980 - 1981
- Robert Moir - 1982 - 1983
- William H. DeYoung - 1985 - 1986
- Terry Graham - 2000 - 2001
- Gayle Hodgson - 2005 - 2006
- Victor Smith - 2007 - 2008
- Gord Taylor - 2010 - 2011
- Mary Ann Smith - 2012 - 2013
- Albert Munneke - 2013 - 2014
- Linda Duffie - 2014 - 2015
- Janet Marrisen - 2015 - 2016
- Susan Taylor - 2019 - 2020
- Don Radnor - 2020 - 2021
- Mark Kelso - 2021 - 2022
Club Histories
- Chemung Lake Lions Club
- Land O’Lakes Lions Club
Compiled by the 2023/24 History Committee:
Chair – PDG Doug Galt 1973/74
Researchers - PDG Dave Hansen 1976/77
- PDG John Thompson 1980/81
- PID Terry Graham 2005/07
Editor – Lion Cathy Galt
Web-site planner - Rachel
* "The History of Lions District A3 begins with District A711" - Lion Ray Charbonneau
Past District Governors Transferred into District A3
1946 - 1947* Russell Hunter A-4
1948 - 1949 * Donald Carmichael A-4
1951 - 1952 * Dick Taylor A-6
1956 - 1957* Bob Cooper A-2
1969 - 1970* Ed Wiggens A-11
1971 - 1972* Bob Hannigan A-5
1972 - 1973* Mark Cornish A-5
1980 - 1981 Gil Constantini A-16
1988 - 1989* Ron Lacey A-11
1990 - 1991 Barry Flanigan A-1
1991 - 1992 Earle Pilkey ` A-16
1994 - 1995 Paul Parks MD 37C
1994 - 1995 Elfy Elefttheriadis A-12
2006 - 2007 Paul Baker A-711
2007 - 2008 Jim Wilson A-711
* deceased
Past MD "A" Council Chairs from District A-3
1964 - 1965 * J. Ross Oliphant Peferborough
1989 - 1990 Erwood Reynolds Napanee
1999 - 1900 Graham Lewis Peterborough
2002 - 2003 Harry Marissen Wellington
2004 - 2005.. Dan Davis Tamworth
2017 - 2018 John Whyte Wellington
* deceased .. no longer in District
Past International Directors From District A-3
1977 - 1979* William H. Maguire Cobourg
1989 - 1991 Gil Constantini # Peterborough
2005 - 2007 Terry Graham Newcastle
* deceased # D.G.from A8 & P.C.C. from A8
