Dear Editor
With respect to my recent essay on Herb Sparrow (News-Optimist, Feb. 20), this is to apologize to the North Battleford Lions Club for inadvertently giving credit to the City of North Battleford for awarding to Senator Sparrow the title of "Citizen of the Decade" in 1989. In fact, it was the North Battleford Lions and the Battlefords News-Optimist who bestowed this great honour on Senator Sparrow. The City had nothing to do with it.
While I have this opportunity during North Battleford's centennial, I would like to give the North Battleford Lions credit for their wonderful, charitable work in our city. Next year, April 2014, the Lions will mark 60 years of community service and volunteerism.
It should be noted it is the North Battleford Lions and the News-Optimist who sponsor the annual Citizen and Junior Citizen of the Year Awards.
Over the course of many decades, the Lions have fundraised tens of thousands of dollars for the benefit of our citizens. Some of these initiatives have included a large donation to the CUPlex (with other Lions clubs), building the Riverview playground, providing the lighting at the toboggan hill by the Don Ross Centre, collecting eyeglasses for Third World countries and many more.
We should be appreciative of the many Lions who have served this city so well over the years. But most noteworthy are those stalwart men who have worked tirelessly as Lions for decades, for the benefit of our city and its citizens. Men like Del Lapp, Ed Smith, Gib Volk and Pat Folan come to mind. On the occasion of our great city's centennial, we must give a large and heartfelt thank you to a most generous and selfless organization - the North Battleford Lions Club.
Richard W. Hiebert,
North Battleford Centennial Historical Committee
