Kiwanis Club of Swift Current - 100 Years of Building - Part Seven, 1981 to 1991
During 2021, the Kiwanis Club of Swift Current celebrates its 100th anniversary. This is the seventh of 10 articles summarizing club projects and activities during 10 decades of service.
The local Kiwanis club, again boasting a membership of 100 by 1983, supported a myriad of activities and projects during the 80s. By 1980, Kiwanis had donated $33,000 to the SK Council for Crippled Children and Adults. They provided another $16,000 toward the purchase of a bus for what was now called the SK Abilities Council. In 1982, the club began Fun Olympics, a project which provided an afternoon of games and companionship for residents of the Palliser Hospital. Fun Olympics continued for about 30 years. In 1983, the club donated $2,500 to furnish a room in the University Hospital’s Out-patient Lodge in Saskatoon, to be used by cancer patients from southwest Saskatchewan.
For three years, Kiwanis held an art exhibition and sale at the Horseshoe Lodge (now the Coast Hotel) in cooperation with Regina’s Assiniboia Gallery. Apple sales continued and reached, what was by then, an all-time high of $13,135.90 in proceeds in 1989. In 1984, Kiwanians distributed pamphlets for the new-to-the-city Neighbourhood
Watch Program as they sold apples.
Funds were distributed to several organizations. $20,000 was donated toward the building of the new grandstand at Kinetic Park. $600 went to PRIDE (Parents’ Resource Institute for Drug Education). The club continued sponsorship of the Air Cadet League and, together with Cypress Hills Community College (now Great Plains Regional College), sponsored baby-sitting courses for many years.
To beautify the city, Kiwanis constructed a rest stop along the Chinook Pathway in 1985. To commemorate the club’s 70th anniversary in 1991, an extension of a paved walkway and another rest-stop shelter were built in Kiwanis Park.
The Swift Current Kiwanis club maintained strong ties to Kiwanis International within its Western Canadian and provincial organizational structure. Inter-clubbing was popular and, in 1985, the local club organized the Western Canada District Convention for 218 Kiwanians, 160 partners, and 48 children representing clubs ranging from western Ontario to northern BC. In June, 1987, 85% of delegates at the Kiwanis International Convention passed an amendment to remove gender-based membership requirements for Kiwanians. At the time, local approval for women as members was somewhat less favourable.
In the mid-80s, Swift Current was saddened by a number of suicides. In response, Kiwanis, in partnership with the Community College, sponsored a Suicide Prevention Program providing sessions for teachers, health personnel, police, and parents. 1990 marked 22 years the club had organized annual Lenten Services at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church.
In 1987, many members were active in organizing and running events at the Saskatchewan Special Olympic games in Swift Current. Members also participated in local fundraising for the 911 System to become a reality. Kiwanians are often generous with volunteer hours beyond the parameters of their club.
Excerpts for this article were gleaned from “Fifty Years of Building” by J. Baden Campbell
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