Our History

Volunteer Opportunities

Our members engage in a variety of volunteer activities, such as:

• Ducks for Dogs Raffle: This event supports the B.C and Alberta Guide Dogs and our focus is on autistic children ages 3-10 in the Vernon Area
• Annual Golf Tourney  supports Camp Winfield in Lake Country which provides overnight camps, online camps, and family camps. Camp Winfield focuses on creating experiences that instill confidence in children and adults, emphasizing abilities rather than disabilities. Their programs accommodate campers, from children, up to age 49, with developmental challenges, anxiety disorders, Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, and epilepsy/seizure disorders, .
• Vision Screening: We conduct vision screenings at elementary schools in the Greater Vernon area, including Coldstream, Armstrong, Enderby, Lumby, and Falkland.
• Used Eyeglass Collection: We collect used eyeglasses at all vision centres and optometrists in the Vernon area. These glasses are sorted, cleaned, and refurbished by CLERC in Calgary before being sent to third-world countries to assist children and adults who cannot afford proper eye care.

• Fundraising Activities 

Our members participate in many fundraising activities, during the year, including but not limited to: 

• Our Ducks for Dogs Race is a raffle and fun duck race in Polson Park, usually in July each year and the funds raised through ticket sales go to help fund a service dog for an autistic child in the Vernon area. In the last two years we have seen two dogs provided to autistic children, and this year we hope to see as many as two additional dogs placed with families.
• We encourage all golfers to join in the fun at the Vernon Lions Annual Golf Tourney for a fun day at the course and participate in our Silent and Live Auction events during the evening after enjoying a great dinner and great camaraderie with like minded people.  Camp Winfield is our fund recipient.
• Charity Poker Tournaments  The Vernon Lions Club holds three events a year and the funds raised for the last two years have been donated to the City of Vernon for the Barrier Free Change Room Facilities at Lakeview Peanut Pool and Park.  This year it is our intention to provide an adjustable bed to assist caregivers and family members with changing into, and out of, bathing attire so that people with disabilities can use the pool too!

During the year 2024 Vernon Lions Club provided assistance in the total amount of several thousand dollars to clients in the community that required vision screening or eyeglasses. These clients were adults and children that required assistance but could not afford the cost of the exams or glasses. The Vernon Lions Club works closely with local optometrists, Child and Family Services, and other local groups to try to provide assistance where desperately needed. 

As part of our mandate to assist with Vision, the Vernon Lions Club is also involved in recycling used eyeglasses for the Canadian Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centre (CLERC). Eyeglasses that are recyclable can be dropped off at most optometrist or vision centres in Vernon. 

More information on Eyeglass Recycling can be found on their website    clerc.ca/

Last year Vernon Lions Club recycled over 6600 pairs of eyeglasses to CLERC.

Vernon Collection Locations can be found at vernonlionsclub.ca at the bottom of the home page

More information on Eyeglass Recycling can be found on their website    clerc.ca/

On February 1, 2025 Vernon Lions Club hosted their eighth sold out poker tournament at the Army, Navy, Air Force Club in Vernon BC. People traveled from as far away as Kamloops for this event, it is becoming so popular. This is a charity event raising funds for the Lakeview Peanut Pool Varied Abilities Change Room which already has an aquatic chair and a lift and rails to move the chair and clients to and from their own equipment. This equipment was supplied by the Vernon Lions Club.  This year the funds being raised from our Poker Events will be to purchase an Adjustable Change Table/Bed which will allow caregivers and families the opportunity to assist client and family member in and out of bathing attire without risk of personal injury to either their clients or themselves. 

The total cost of this three year project will be over $33,000.00

Vernon Lions Club would like to thank all the participants, volunteer dealers and Lions, without whose help we would not be able to present these events.

Vernon Lions Club was involved in the original development and construction of the pool and facilities in 1958 and was very pleased to be invited back by the City of Vernon to be involved in the rebuild and renovation of the new facilities at Lakeview Peanut Pool.  

If you are interested in playing in one of our tournaments our next event is March 29, 2025. More information can be found at poker.vernonlionsclub.com

If you are interested in joining Lions or want to see what we are about, please click on the link below at [vernonlionsclub.ca] to find out more about Vernon Lions in the community, or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Vernonlionsclub1945 

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Our Winners

They decided to chop the pot for  First and Second Place and played one hand for the trophy.

Congratulations 

Champion Karen Penaluna and Co-winner  Mersad Khatani

Pictured also is Tournament Director Lion Ron Mare

On June 22, 2024 The Vernon Lions Club proudly presented our cheque in the amount of Nineteen Thousand, Eight Hundred, and Fifty Two Dollars and 13 cents ($19,852.13) to Mike Herrling representing Camp Winfield, the Easter Seal Society camp for people with disabilities in the Okanagan area. Camp Winfield is located in Lake Country. The proceeds are from the Vernon Lions Club 6th Annual Charity Golf Tourney held in May 2024. Our next event will be on May 31, 2025 at the Vernon Golf and Country Club. Visit us at golf.vernonlionsclub.com for more information. Registration is opening soon!!