Kinsmen Report: May 2017

Greeting everyone from the Bible Hill Kinsmen!

May is nearly gone, and what a busy month it’s been for our club. Most of our attention went toward the 2nd Annual Colchester Book Fair. Held at the Truro Mall this year, the response from the community in the lead up to the event was overwhelming. Thank you to everyone who donated items. It was interesting to have books sold by weight instead of individual prices, but overall it made for some fantastic deals and a lot of happy book lovers! We were blown away by the lineup before the doors opened on the first day of the sale, and once again say thank you to everyone who stopped in.

Proceeds are going to the Colchester East Hants VON and other Kinsmen initiatives. We’ll release information on the donation to the local VON very soon.

The Kinsmen Club of Bible Hill was honoured this past month to have a visit from Kin Canada National President James Doerr. A few of our members showed him around the area, pointing out some of the projects Kinsmen have contributed to over the years as well as local landmarks.

As a part of that visit, Truro Mayor Bill Mills joined Mr. Doerr and a handful of our members for the official unveiling of a sign in Victoria Park, recognizing the long history Kinsmen have in developments there. Currently, our club is in the middle of a five-year, $25,000 commitment for playground upgrades.

The play area was built by Kinsmen in 1952 with swings and other equipment. Modern facilities, such as the swimming pool, were built in 1959 with the support of a number of local groups. The Dr. Jim Vibert Trail, dedicated after the prominent Truro surgeon, was established by the Kinsmen in the 1970s.

More recently, the playground and baseball diamond saw major upgrades in 1994 and 2000, when washrooms and new playground equipment was installed. That work was partly funded by the Truro Kinsmen. A joint effort between the Kinsmen and the town led to the addition of the water spray park.

We’re looking at wrapping up our Kin year at the end of June, with a new executive elected ready to lead the way once our meetings resume in September. The club holds meetings on the first and third Thursday of the month, from September to June, at 7:30 p.m. at the Douglas Street Recreation Centre. If you’re interested in joining us for a meeting, or would like more information, email president@biblehillkinsmen.ca.

James Faulkner is a member of the Bible Hill Kinsmen.

Victoria Park Kinsmen Playground Sign Unveiled

Left to right: Kinsmen Mark Thibedeau, Andrew St. Coeur, Quinn McCarthy, Truro Mayor Bill Mills, Kin Canada National President James Doerr, Kinsmen John Spears, Dave Gillis, Club President Peter Taylor (Photo: James Faulkner)

A sign was recently installed to recognize the Victoria Park Kinsmen Playground. Truro Mayor Bill Mills and Kin Canada National President James Doerr were on hand with a number of Kinsmen for an official unveiling on Thursday.

The Kinsmen Club of Bible Hill is in the middle of a five-year, $25,000 commitment for playground upgrades in Victoria Park. Kinsmen, both the club in Bible Hill and Truro before them, have long supported the park.

The play area was built in 1952 with swings and other equipment. Modern facilities, such as the swimming pool, were built in 1959 with the support of a number of local groups. The Dr. Jim Vibert Trail, dedicated after the prominent Truro surgeon, was established by the Kinsmen in the 1970s.

More recently, the playground and baseball diamond saw major upgrades in 1994 and 2000, when washrooms and new playground equipment was installed. That work was partly funded by the Truro Kinsmen. A joint effort between the Kinsmen and the town led to the addition of the water spray park.

It’s just one way the Kinsmen Club of Bible Hill is able to fulfill its motto of “Serving the Community’s Greatest Need”.

Kinsmen Report: October

Bible Hill Kinsmen President Peter Taylor, Paul Gillis, Brent Pettis, Ken Wynn, Geoff Hamlin, Truro Mayor Bill Mills, Stephen Hamlin, Mark Thibedeau, Perry Kohler, Perry Kienzle, John Spears (Photo credit: Babineau Photography)

Greetings from the Bible Hill Kinsmen!

Recently we had a cheque presentation to the Town of Truro. Our club is has made a five-year commitment totalling $25,000 to the Parks and Recreation Department in the Town of Truro. The funds will be used to upgrade the playground at Victoria Park.

The Kinsmen have a long and proud history of supporting Victoria Park, going back to the Truro Kinsmen Club. They put in the first outdoor pool there, as well as the Water Spray Park, canteen, and the Kinsmen Playground itself. The Bible Hill Club has since added one of the gazebos when the park was redone, and has continued the tradition of supporting one of the crown jewels of our region through the years. We can’t wait to see what our latest commitment will do to help enhance the park.

Our members also extend a thank you to the community for your generous donations to our Kindness Meters in Truro. We’re coming up on the first anniversary of their installation, and the funds go right back to the community. The three charities being supported through the meters at this time are ElderDog, the Salvation Army Community Café, and the Christmas Index Program.

The club is preparing to hold a New Year’s Dance this year at Bible Hill Junior High School. Despite some confusion from some of our members on what day it should be held, mark your calendar for December 31st. The dance will run from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m., with Big Dog 100.9’s Tyler Granter as the DJ (also a Kinsmen!). Tickets are $20 per person and stay tuned on when and where they can be purchased. It will be a lot of fun to ring in the New Year with you! Feel free to email newyearsdance@biblehillkinsmen.ca with any questions.

We hold meetings at 7:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of the month from September through June . If you’re interested in attending at the Douglas Street Recreation Centre, or would like more information, email president@biblehillkinsmen.com.

James Faulkner is a member of the Bible Hill Kinsmen