By Pepper Parr
December 28th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
The event was to recognize and celebrate the $100,000 donations to three essential Burlington organizations:
The Compassion Society; Shifra and Carpenter Hospice.
Giving away $100,000
The event drew a respectable audience and gave Lion Fanboy an opportunity to talk about the work that the Burlington Lions have been doing in the community for 100 years.
Events like this draw the politicians: two MP’s; one MPP, one Mayor and two members of Council. Give them 10 minutes each and you’ve just spent an hour during which they all said basically the same thing.
There is more to the Burlington Lions than hosting politicians.
Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman, an unidentified young Lion and Burlington MP Karina Gould
The organization, like many, has difficulty drawing in new members. The demographic they draw from doesn’t consist of people with a lot of energy. They also tend to be a little fixed in their ways.
The Burlington Lions have bucked that trend. They have a lot of new younger members, “which brings its own set of problems”.
The younger people move a little quicker and bring new ideas with them. That creates a little friction at times.
Again, the Lions are bucking that problem as well.
Festival of Lights is now a Lions operation.
This year the Lions took over the running of the Festival of Lights that takes place at Spencer Smith Park every year from late November through to early January. This year, the display ends on January 7th – still plenty of time to take the kids with you and stroll through Spencer Smith Park.
If you haven’t taken the time to stroll through Spencer Smith Park and enjoy what is set up – do make the time.
We asked John Fanjoy how the event ended in the hands of the Lions and what they were going to do with the event going forward. Fanjoy said “what we got was a collection of a lot of equipment that needed some loving care and upgrades. We are at the changing the light bulbs stage right now.”
The Lions are tenants in a building they helped finance. They own the land the structure is on.
They deeded the parkland around the building to the city a number of years ago.
One of the most successful Farmers’ Markets in Southern Ontario.
The Burlington Nelson Lions Club opened the Farmers’ Market in the Central Arena parking lot in 1960. They have changed locations several times. They settled in at the Burlington Centre 15 years ago and have become one of the most successful Farmers’ Markets in Southern Ontario.
Clearly, a very active organization with a membership of less than 50. Most service organizations struggle to maintain membership; the Lions have found a way to attract younger people.
How do you become a Lion? Start here
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