Peachland Lions are giving back! They recently donated a generous $5,844 to the Peachland Food Bank. Lions president John Craven presented Judy Bedford the cheque, surrounded by food bank volunteers.
“The $844 was raised at Light Up, thanks to the municipality of Peachland,” said Linda Craven. She sent along this photo:
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Adding to the collection of Peachland-inspired ornaments is a Christmas tradition for many locals, with the Lions recently unveiling the 2025 edition:
This one is from a painting of downtown Peachland, completed by local artist and Lions member Launna Vinnedge.
These pewter ornaments are $20 each and proceeds go right back to Peachland, through the Lions’ contributions to local non-profit / volunteer groups.
You’ll find Lions Club members selling the ornaments at Peachland IGA every Saturday, or show up for Peachland’s big Christmas Market Nov 29.
The ornament idea started in 2021, thanks to local Lions Linda and John Craven. The first year they sold out!
The 2021 ornament was the Yellow School House – also known as Our SPACE
2022 was the museum
2023 was the Ray Kandola pier
2024 a nod to Peachland’s annual Classic Car Show.
And a closer look at the 2025 version:
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Summer, 2025:
Yes, it was hot in that tent! Especially near the barbecue. The Lions teamed up Canada Day to serve Heritage Park. They were also at the Peachland Fall Fair and the Turner Park opening!
The Peachland Lions are used to serving hundreds at a time – here they are again June 11 at the District of Peachland open house.
…a week later, they received recognition from the District of Peachland – in the form of a $750 cheque. The Lions regularly supply & cook dogs, burgers and buns for community events!
And during the 2025 Peachland Classic Car Show:
From 2024:
It’s the time of year in Peachland where we start to see local groups with the cheques! Here’s Lions president John Craven (in the middle) handing over $9,000 to the Peachland Food Bank!
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Here is the Lion’s 2024 ornament, an annual Christmas fundraiser:
“All proceeds support local Peachland initiatives,” according to the group’s FB page.
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The Peachland Lions put on our town’s first-ever bocce tournament August 10! Cousins Field was the place, there was live music from Keith Thom, charcuterie (with optional wine, of course!) and a delicious spaghetti dinner, complete with gelato. Prizes, too for first, second and third place teams + most sportsmanlike. A lot of thought went into this fundraiser – money raised goes right back to the community. Definitely signing up for next year – August 9, 2025!
..from the Lions Facebook page
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The Lions were at Canada Day festivities in Heritage Park!
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The Peachland Lions has a new president. John Craven is now in the role, after Steve Sweeney served for the past three years. Sweeney is in a new position, serving as First Vice District Governor. In July, 2025 he’ll become District Governor, which is the first time someone from the Peachland Lions has held this position. There are about 60 Lions Clubs throughout BC and Washington State.
“It promises to be a busy few years visiting all the clubs in the district,” Sweeney says.
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It’s that time of year again – time for the annual Lions charity golf tournament.
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From 2023:
On Dec 1 the Lions donated $5,000 to the Peachland Food Bank. Thanks to Linda Craven for the photo. She’s handing the cheque to the food bank’s Judy Bedford (right) and Debbie Baerg is on the left.
What will the Lions Christmas ornament be this year? A depiction of the Ray Kandola Pier. This is the third year the Lions have done this fundraiser. You can purchase online.
The ornaments are $20 and I’m told they will be sold at the Nov 19 and Nov 25 Christmas markets in Peachland.
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This year’s Canada Day parade was named in honour of longtime organizer Lynne Herrin. Here’s the story I wrote leading up to the parade – and here’s some 2023 pics!
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The Peachland Lions were in the July heat, helping the PWC celebrate it’s Walk for Wellness campaign.
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Peachland Lions volunteers were at the World of Wheels!
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The Lions Club presented a special honour to a Peachland couple at the Citizen Awards held May 5:
Lions Club president Steve Sweeney presented Linda and John Craven with the Lions of the Year award. They spearheaded the commemorative Christmas ornaments – a project they brought to Peachland as a fundraiser for the club.
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It’s back! The Lions golf tournament was April 30 at the Summerland Golf Course:
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The Peachland Lions donated $1,000 to the Peachland Ambassadors during their annual St. Pawtrick’s Day Dog Walk!
Here’s some Lions news, from 2022!
For the past couple years, the Peachland Lions have chosen a local landmark for their collectible ornaments. Funds raised from sales go back into the community (namely, to the Hub project.) Last year, the historic yellow schoolhouse was depicted. This year, it’s the Peachland Museum. And a few days before Christmas, Lions Club president Steve Sweeney (in the middle) presented a 2022 ornament to the museum’s Barb Dionne and Jeff Green, as a thank you. Don Wilson was there too, but was also behind a camera 🙂
Ornaments are $20 each and you can Etransfer to Linda and John Craven.
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The Peachland Lions are always extra-generous this time of year! Here Peachland Wellness Centre Kym Martin accepts a $1,000 cheque from the Lions’ Steve Sweeney. This will go a long way when the PWC prepares their upcoming Christmas meal for Peachlanders (they do the same thing at Thanksgiving and Easter, so no one is left alone.)
“The Lions recognize and appreciate the huge effort that the Wellness centre puts into providing for those less fortunate,” Sweeney said.
Thanks to Shelley Sweeney for this photo!
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$5,000 to the Peachland Food Bank! Steve Sweeney from the Peachland Lions handed over a big cheque to Judy Bedford recently.
“Hopefully we can provide a little joy to Peachlanders that may otherwise do without this Christmas,” said Sweeney.
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Here’s the Peachland Lions selling their famous burgers and hot dogs at the 23rd annual World of Wheels! (and here’s a tribute to longtime volunteer Lynne Herrin, pictured below)
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The Peachland Hub received a nice boost from the local Lions Club – a cheque for $1,000! What’s the Hub? It’s a big project – and will house Peachland’s non profit groups after a renovation to the existing 50+ Centre. Read more here
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Another cheque, this time it’s $500 for the Okanagan Boys and Girls Club! Peachland Lions president Steve Sweeney sent this pic in:
“The Peachland Lions Club is thrilled to sponsor one of their favourite group of people, the Boys and Girls Club,” he says.
Pictured in the back row are Thomas Vincent and Nichole Tutt of the Boys and Girls Club, Lions president Steve Sweeney and Brittany Doig also with the Boys & Girls Club. And of course, some of the kids who enjoy the activities!
It was Peachland’s first “big” event since all this COVID stuff – and the St. Paddy’s dog walk was a success! This was planned by the Peachland Ambassadors, and they had lots of help. The Peachland Lions grilled hot dogs – and generously donated $1,000 to the Ambassadors, in honour of their 75th year!
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Here’s what happened in 2020/21!
A Christmas Letter to the Editor from the Peachland Lions:
On behalf of the Peachland Lions Club I would like to thank the residents of Peachland that supported our Christmas Ornament sale. In our inaugural year we have sold out and look forward to making this an annual tradition.
We had originally intended to use the proceeds to support the Peachland Historical School Accessible Plaza Society. Given they have suspended their campaign we will now use those proceeds to support other endeavours in our community.
One hundred percent of funds raised by the Lions are given back to the community. We do not divert any fundraising money to support the club.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,
–Steve Sweeney, Lions Club president
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Nice work, Peachland Lions! They’re at it again, this time with a $5,000 cheque to the local food bank! Pictured from the right is Lions Club president Steve Sweeney, the food bank’s Judy Bedford and Anne-Marie Mizzi, who is a new Lions member!
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Here’s Lions Club president Steve Sweeney presenting a $500 donation, which will help make possible the annual Christmas dinner hosted by the Peachland Wellness Centre! Also pictured is Christina MacMaster, executive director of the PWC.
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The Peachland Lions released a commemorative Christmas tree ornament. Proceeds from the sales were meant for the accessible ramp project, which has stopped its fundraising efforts for now. It’s hoped, however that an ornament highlighting different parts of Peachland might be released every year as part of a collection..
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The situation has since been resolved – and who knows, with the pandemic it may be moot anyway – but the Peachland Lions are happier now that their concerns over next June’s use of community centre’s banquet room has been resolved. On October 27, this is how Lions Club president Steve Sweeney saw it:
I am writing on behalf of the Peachland Lions Club to express our concern regarding Peachland Council’s granting the exclusive use of the Community Centre Banquet Room from June to August 2021 for the BEEPS program.
We were informed Oct. 28 that our standing monthly booking has been cancelled for that period.
We appreciate and support the BEEPS program in Peachland. It is difficult to understand why an organization with two permanent display venues in the Business Centre and the Visitor’s Information Centre would be granted exclusive use of a community facility. Were alternatives with less impact on other community groups such as the board room of the Visitor’s Information Centre considered?
I fear this was a hasty decision that failed to take the impact on the rest of Peachland’s community organizations into consideration.
Council’s mission statement includes this sentence:
Council engages the community in two-way exchanges to fully understand the community’s needs and aspirations – Council’s decisions for and on behalf of the community are based on this understanding.
Regrettably they forgot this provision of their statement when making this decision.
While we have not been using the banquet room recently this is only because of Covid related restrictions. If those restrictions are still in place next summer then the cancellation is moot. However, if we are able to meet together it would have a very real impact on the workings of our club.
I urge Council to reconsider this decision with the interests of the entire community in mind.
Regards,
-Steve Sweeney, President
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Thanks to the Lions, the Peachland Riding Club was able to have a modified season this summer. Earlier this year, The Peachland Lions dropped off a $1,500 cheque to make this challenging season possible.
From the right are Peachland Riding Club members Riley Eide and Carter Lochmanetz, Lions Club president Steve Sweeney, and Riding Club members Kevin Froase, Keillin Froase and Chloe Gautron.
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The Peachland Lions are still serving the community, even with their usual events cancelled or postponed. They’ve teamed up with the Pincushion quilters group to provide homemade masks to those living in seniors buildings in town. Volunteers sewed 125 of them, and the masks are also available at Peachland Pharmacy. They’re free, but if you can donate to the food bank, it would be appreciated.
Here’s more on the Peachland Lions:
They’re a hands-on club best known for their famous barbecue and pancake breakfasts, but the Lions Club of Peachland does a lot more than feed the masses. Established in 1982, they’re become known as great Canada Day parade organizers, and you’ll definitely see them at Peachland’s World of Wheels and Christmas Light Up events. They’re also hosts of an annual charity golf tournament, along with the Divas and Diamonds Fundraiser (returning in 2021). They’re the ones who built Peachland’s wheelchair-accessible lake entrance at Swim Bay, along with a waterproof wheelchair for those who need it. They’re also one of the three local groups who made the Peachland pier a reality. The Peachland Lions are also regular contributors to Peachland Elementary School’s programs and activities, and they support many other groups in the community. Internationally, the Lions Club is the largest service club in the world, and focus on diabetes research, vision, hunger, the environment and childhood cancer.
New members are always welcome, and joining the Lions is a great way to get involved in our community. They meet at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month at the “Lion’s Den”, 4440 5th St. Call (250) 7670330 for more information.
President: Steve Sweeney (stevesweeney@shaw.ca)
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