The Mount Forest Lions kicked off their 80th anniversary on Saturday by officially the designating the playground at Hutchinson Park as Lion Merv Weber Playground, in honour and memory of the very active longtime club member.
Weber joined the Mount Forest Lions in 1964 and, until his death in 2010, had never missed a meeting.
He was president in 1974-75 and zone chair in 1977-78. In addition to sponsoring several new Lions members over the years, Weber was bingo chair, bulletin editor and benevolence chair. He was awarded a Melvin Jones Fellowship in 2002, the highest award offered by the Lions.
His widow Carol, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren attended the sign unveiling at the park, on the corner of Queen and Birmingham Streets, as did his sister Bonnie and brother-in-law Wilson Schwindt (he joined the Lions at the same time as Weber over 50 years ago and is still an active member).
Lion Al Leach, master of ceremonies for the ceremony, said the Lions could have had a dinner to mark their 80th anniversary but instead opted for a yearlong celebration in the community.
“After all, our ability to serve is because of the support of the people in the community,” he said.
That support results in the Lions Club being able to make Mount Forest a better community in which to work, play and live, he said.
Leach explained that back in 1922 Alfred Hutchinson, who had moved to the community in 1902, donated the property for the park to the municipality.
Though it was always referred to as Hutchinson Park, it wasn’t officially named until Saturday, when the Merv Weber Playground sign was unveiled. The name Hutchinson Park is prominent as well.
Dignitaries at the unveiling ceremony included Mount Forest Lions president Gaston St. Louis, Wellington North Mayor Andy Lennox, councillor Sherry Burke, Lions A9 district governor Dennis Flavell, governor-elect Mount Forest Lion Mary Ruth Job and past district governor Mount Forest Lion Vern Job and project chair Lion Rick Sinnamon.
Lennox said the township “owes the Lions a huge debt of gratitude for all the things [they] do,” including visible projects such as the Merv Weber Playground and the work the work the club does behind the scenes for the betterment of all.
Flavell presented the club with a certificate marking its 80th anniversary, noting it was one of the earliest Lions Clubs formed. Next year the Lions will be celebrating 100 years in Canada.
It was noted that Wellington Heights Secondary School teacher Dave Griffith and his Truth about Youth students painted the swings and teeter totters and replaced wooden boundaries at the playground.
Weber’s grandsons Josh McLellan and Troy Weber officially unveiled the Lion Merv Weber Playground sign.
Weber’s great-granddaughter, four-year-old Everleigh McLellan, held one end of a ribbon that was cut by several Lions, other dignitaries, Carol Weber and Wilson and Bonnie Schwindt.
The celebration then moved to Campbell deVore Park on Cork Street for a barbecue, bubble soccer and, for the kids, bouncy castles and face painting.
The Lions Club said it was “an opportunity to thank the community for its support over the last 80 years of our service to our community.”
Weber’s daughter Shelley thanked the Mount Forest Lions Club for dedicating the playground at Hutchinson Park in her dad’s name.
“We are honoured and humbled with this gesture,” she said, noting the large crowd at Campbell deVore Park shows “how much your club is valued and appreciated in Mount Forest.”
