Lions Pride in Tillsonburg
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Tillsonburg Lions Club spread some Lion Pride Monday visiting Grade 1 students across town.
The purpose of the visit to Rolph Street Public School, South Ridge Public School, Maple Lane Public School and St. Joseph’s Catholic School, said Lion Don Wharram, was to talk about pride.
“It’s a preparation for Canada Day,” said Wharram at Rolph Street Monday morning. “We give out flags (more than 40,000 nationwide) and encourage them to use them on Canada Day. This year we’re also giving out Lions colouring books to each of the students as well.
“We talk about Canada, and its birthday, and things about the flag…. it can go anywhere with little kids like this,” he smiled. “We ask them questions and we get some cute responses.”
Later in the afternoon, at St. Joseph’s School, Lion Vern Fleming asked students at how old Canada is, and he got answers ranging from not that old, to ancient.
“Good guess, keep going, you’re doing well,” Fleming smiled.
“Two hundred.”
“A hundred.”
“A hundred fifty…”
“Ten hundred!”
“Almost,” Fleming laughed. “Keep going.”
“One hundred and fifty-five.”
“One hundred and three?”
“I heard it,” said Fleming, “Canada is 146 years old. Canada was born way back in 1867… before then there was no Canada. So 146 years old.”
All over Canada, said Fleming, Lions Club members across the country were spreading pride to Grade 1 and 2 students, talking about the country and Canada’s flag.
“I just drove around Tillsonburg today, before I came to your school, to see how many flags are flying. On homes, some have them on their trucks, I have one on the dash of my car. Americans have a flag flying at every street corner – they are very proud. And so are we, but we don’t really promote it enough.”
He asked the students how many had flags at home. Some raised their hands, owning big or small flags, and one student even had three – big, medium and small.
“Well, you’re all going to have one today when we’re done,” said Fleming before handing out another collection of flags.