Lions Learning Centre

A Brief History

The Grande Prairie Lions Club was Chartered in 1957. Only one Charter Member remains alive and a Lion; PDG Major Ray van Schaick, a retired Salvation Army Chaplain now residing in Calgary.

Like many clubs with a half-century of service, we have many projects of which we are proud: Lions Park, complete with playground equipment, a spray deck, and a paved surface with a basketball hoop, the surface being convertible for use as an ice-skating rink in the winter; Pioneer Cemetery, the final resting place for victims of a flu epidemic in the early 1900’s, the sandy ridge being the only place where graves could be dug in the winter.

Our service has not been limited to local projects. We have supported guide dogs for handicapped persons, provided computers for students, sponsored sports teams, Air Cadets, 4H, Lions Youth Camps and Lions Youth Exchange, LCIF, Club & District Twinning(Moratuwa, SRI LANKA). We have sponsored several children through a Foster Child program and shipped approximately 50,000 pairs of used eyeglasses to our fellow Lions in SRI LANKA. We even went so far as to visit our project overseas, a wonderful experience.

In 1990 we purchased our first community use building, named the Hillcrest Centre, a former church, which we renovated into meeting space(for us and community use)and rental space which housed the “Cool Aid Society”, a local Youth Support group. The Club President and Secretary signed a personal note for $90,000(CDN) to finance the project. (I guess they had the right stuff: the President has been my CST on two occasions, and the Secretary[my wife] was DG in 1995-96).

Our activities and that of the youth group soon outgrew the available space. In addition, the building was not handicapped accessible.

After much discussion, our club decided to proceed with another “bricks and boards” project which we would own or share with others in the community, which would be our “home”, and which would display the Lions logo. We explored several options, including a Seniors Residence.

Our club had been involved with two groups which provided much needed service and support to youth; “Bridge Network”, an outreach school/alternative learning/storefront school project, and “Pregnant Teen Program”(Society for Support to Pregnant and Parenting Teens), both operated under the auspices of the Grande Prairie Public School District.

Those two groups needed a permanent home. After several false starts, an agreement was struck with the groups and their parent organization(GPPSD).

A steering committee representing all the “Partners” was formed to develop the concept. An architectural firm was retained and a construction management firm was engaged by the tender process. The “Partner” members sat in on every planning and construction site meeting, and even attended tender openings.

A fourth “Partner”, Council for Lifelong Learning, joined the group.

Significant government funding was available since part of the building was dedicated to education. Each partner brought their energies, their assets and their earning power to the table. Land was provided from Municipal Reserve(law here for schools). Every possible government grant was explored, every potential charitable foundation was solicited, the proceeds of the sale of our previous building were added to the pot, we canvassed the community, we applied to and received from LCIF a grant of $60,000 US, and the club borrowed $1,200,000(CDN) from RBC Financial Services, using the facility as collateral.

Construction finally started in the Spring of 2002, occupancy took place during the Christmas break(Dec.2002/Jan.2003), and the first revenue event was during the first week we occupied the building.

Monthly mortgage payments($12,600) are made from the proceeds of our BINGOs and Casinos(legal here in Alberta)and the monthly rentals from our partners. The Grande Prairie Lions are the owners of the facility, and will turn over the building to the School District in 10 years in return for a lifetime tenancy, at our option. All maintenance & janitorial costs, insurance, & utilities are assumed by the School District. Partner meetings continue on a regular basis in order to resolve any issues that arise.

Landscaping has been completed, playground equipment is on order(courtesy of a local group’s $35,000 donation)and tonight I received a call to advise that another $600 donation has been received.

The project was/is a success because many people believed it could be done and worked hard to bring it home. It has proven to be the right thing to do.
 

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