It was a beautiful sunny day with not a cloud in the sky on Saturday, Sept. 20, as a fair number of area residents gathered together in Fadear Park at the newly completed Barriere Lion’s Club gazebo.
Lions rep Ward Stamer welcomed everyone for attending this celebration of the gazebo’s completion. “This structure was made possible by the generous donation of time, material and money from the members of our club and people throughout our community of Barriere,” noted Stamer, “This gazebo will be used by young and old alike for family gatherings, shelter from the weather, or just a place to sit and enjoy the moment.”
Stamer then recognized Ken Popp, a dedicated and hard working Barriere Lion’s Club member for over 43 years.
“This man has served on the executive as president, senior bar chairman for over 20 years, and has always participated in the club’s functions, from flipping pancakes to building washrooms at the North Thompson Fall Fair, to book sales, to splitting firewood in the bitter cold and being too stubborn to go home and put on warmer boots!” said Stamer. “This Lions member has shown his commitment to the Lions Club by also sponsoring more than 25 new members into the club over that time. An accomplishment that no other member has been able to do here, and for that Ken Popp was awarded the Membership Key Award from Lions International.
“Today we would like to recognize Ken’s dedication to our Lions Club and our community,” said Stamer, “ As committee chair of this project, and a member who himself was sponsored into the club by Ken over 25 years ago, it gives me great pride in announcing that on this day, Sept. 20, 2014, the Barriere Lions Club hereby dedicates this structure to Lions Member Ken Popp.”
Stamer then unveiled a plaque that has been mounted on the gazebo and makes note of the dedication to Ken Popp by the Lions Club.
Popp, now 85, says he was truly surprised by the announcement, having no forewarning that it would take place as he stood with those gathered for the celebration.
“I’ve been a member for 43 years,” said Popp, It’s been a long time but I have enjoyed every minute of it.”
After congratulations were given, everyone gathered at the picnic tables inside the gazebo for refreshments, socializing and reminiscing.
Popp’s wife Doreen noted the couple have been staying with their daughters in Calgary over the past few weeks as Ken’s health has not been good. They are back in Barriere for two weeks, and then return to Calgary where Ken has a scheduled surgery.
“If all goes well we hope to be home in Barriere before winter,” said Doreen, “The Lions Club has been a big part of Ken’s life – he loved it.”